Saxony's Crafts in a Slump - 'dying quietly' - Saxony’s rural crafts sector fights for survival amid mounting crises
The crafts sector in rural Saxony is facing a grim outlook, with businesses grappling with a perfect storm of challenges. The sector, which employs nearly 280,000 people, is struggling with dwindling orders, sluggish investment, and soaring costs. Only 37% of businesses currently rate their situation as good, a significant drop from last year.
The Saxon Crafts Association, representing around 54,000 businesses, has sounded the alarm on the dire state of affairs. The sector is dying quietly due to factors like bureaucracy, poor transport links, and lack of reliable services and internet in rural regions. Businesses are also feeling the pinch of high levies and stagnating investment levels, largely due to a lack of planning security and confidence.
The association has welcomed the 'construction turbo' initiative but has stressed the need for swift implementation. It also urges policymakers to ease the strain on crafts businesses. Meanwhile, the sector is facing pressure from dwindling orders, with 44% of businesses expecting their situation to worsen in the coming months. To tackle the crisis, the association believes better informing students about careers in skilled trades is crucial, starting with a shift in mindset in schools.
The crafts sector in Saxony is in dire straits, with businesses struggling to keep afloat. The Saxon Crafts Association has called on policymakers to take urgent action to ease the strain on the sector. Despite the challenges, the association welcomes initiatives like 'construction turbo' but stresses the need for swift implementation. Meanwhile, efforts to promote careers in skilled trades are underway to secure the sector's future.
