Jörg Dittrich, head of Germany’s Central Association of Skilled Crafts, is warning of further job losses in the sector. His demand for lower payroll non-wage costs is a concrete political ask, but his bleak forecast remains an industry-association forecast whose basis is not explained in the material provided.
Dittrich told Funke Media Group newspapers that more than 150,000 jobs had been lost in the crafts sector over the past two years. Without corrective action, he said, the sector could lose another 70,000 to 80,000 jobs a year. He linked the situation to business sentiment at pandemic-level lows, falling investment, high living costs, and owners lacking confidence or finance.
That warning matters because it connects the condition of small businesses to employment and investment. Broad growth forecasts are not enough to judge the outlook for the crafts sector. Small firms also need orders, capital and predictable costs. When they close, the loss can extend beyond jobs to local training capacity and everyday services.
Dittrich called for lower payroll non-wage costs. He also said coalition promises had yet to be delivered, including ending the ban on Sunday baking, making working hours more flexible and cutting electricity tax for all crafts businesses. He criticised a planned digital receipt-provision requirement because it could entail substantial investment costs.
The central limitation is the evidence base. The report does not specify how the claimed loss of more than 150,000 jobs is defined, nor does it set out a method for the projected annual losses of 70,000 to 80,000. It also contains no government response to his demands. Policymakers should not treat the warning as a settled diagnosis, but they should answer it with transparent employment data, scrutiny of cost pressures and a clear account of the promised measures.
Sources
- Der Spiegel · Source date: 2026-11-15
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-15