Economy in Schleswig-Holstein: Stagnation threatens industry!

Economy in Schleswig-Holstein: Stagnation threatens industry!

Lübeck, Deutschland - The North German metal and electrical industry is shown in a tense situation. According to a current survey, which was carried out by Nordmetall in cooperation with employers' associations and AGV north, the economic situation of many companies is left behind the expectations. Robert Focke, Vice President of Nordmetall, emphasizes that industry in Schleswig-Holstein is stagnating. Despite a slight improvement in the ratings of the business situation, the basic mood remains rather dark. According to the results, 38% of the companies rate their situation as "unsatisfactory" or even "bad". Only 28% are satisfied with their current business situation, while 34% classify them as "satisfactory". This means that the proportion of satisfied companies has only improved by 7% compared to autumn.

High costs and bureaucratic hurdles burden the companies

Numerous companies are faced with problems that cloud their future perspectives. High labor costs and bureaucracy are named as burdens of 84% of the companies surveyed. International crises and US customs policy also make it easier for companies. The survey shows that 36% of the companies report a low order stock, while the general utilization is 81%. The fear of discharge is also not to be neglected: 11% of the companies plan personnel reduction. In the other direction, 29% are to recruit new staff, which means a total of 150 vacancies. A bright spot could be the fact that the North German companies do better in the search for qualified staff than the average; 51% have difficulties, but the national average is 58%.

Hope for improvement?

The prospects for the next half of the year also give little optimism. Only 24% of companies expect improvement, while 55% expect persistent stagnation. 20% fear that the situation will continue to deteriorate. A survey of 206 member companies with around 101,000 employees from Bremen, Emden, Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven shows that 57% of companies assume stagnation within the coming months. The companies in Bremen are particularly pessimistic, where 44% expect a further deterioration in their situation, while Hamburg companies have the most optimistic assessments with only 26%.

What the industry also depresses are the relocation of production abroad that every fifth company is planning. The metal industry in particular is under pressure. Only in the aerospace sector show 91% of companies a positive order situation. In other sectors, such as road vehicle construction, 50% report on inadequate orders.

The role of politics

In view of the oppressive situation, Kiel's CDU Economic Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen expresses that the economic situation is extremely challenging, especially for export-oriented companies in the metal industry. Another problem remains the attractiveness of Germany business location: 49% of the companies believe that it loses attraction - a decline in two thirds of the parties, which saw this a year ago. Little hope gives the targeted use of the 500 billion euro infrastructure special assets by the federal government, since 48% of companies do not consider this as an advantage.

The expectations of increasing defense spending are also mixed. 59% of companies see no benefits from it, and the overall mood in the industry remains tense.

Overall, it remains for the metal and electrical industry in northern Germany in the event of a constant weighing between hope and challenge- especially in view of the potential support from federal programs and the need for fundamental reforms of the current framework conditions. The industry is currently in a constant waiting position, while the companies are eagerly listening to the signs of the federal government.
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OrtLübeck, Deutschland
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