Destatis sheds light on the skilled labor situation in the sanitary and heating sector
Source: Energy & Management Powernews, July 28, 2022
Heat pumps and solar thermal are considered among the building blocks of the energy transition in the heating sector. However, the skilled personnel to install and maintain these systems is declining.
With the outbreak of war in Ukraine at the end of February, the desire of consumers for more independence in their own energy supply is increasing - and with it the demand for heat pumps and solar thermal systems. On the other hand, the number of skilled workers installing and maintaining the systems is declining. This is shown by current figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
Accordingly, 275,000 people were employed in plumbing and heating professions last year. In 2012, 303,000 people were still pursuing this profession - according to Destatis, this is a decline of 8.4 percentage points. The number of all employed people in Germany, on the other hand, went up in the same period.
The market researchers also come to the following conclusions:
Age structure: Almost every fifth employed person (22.4%) in sanitary and heating occupations was between 55 and 64 years old in 2021. Accordingly, he will retire from working life in the near future. In a ten-year comparison, the proportion of this age group increased significantly: in 2012, the number of 55- to 66-year-olds was still at 12.9%
Training figures: Here, the market observers make out a slight positive trend: In a ten-year comparison, the number of trainees climbed by 13.5% to currently 37,600 people.
Genders: Almost exclusively men decide for a profession in the sanitary and heating construction. Only every 75th training position went to a female applicant in 2012.
Prices for services: According to Destatis, the high demand for skilled workers in sanitary and heating construction is also reflected in the prices for their services: work in the sanitary sector cost 4.4% more in June this year than in the same month last year. Prices for services in the heating and air conditioning sector increased by 13.5%. For comparison, consumer prices rose by 7.6% in the same period.
Number of establishments: According to Destatis, in the 1st quarter of 2022, just under 3,700 establishments of companies with at least 20 employees were active in gas, water, heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation. The number increased by 39.5% compared to the first quarter of 2012. Sales generated also increased in the same period - from just under EUR 2.7 billion to around EUR 4.6 billion. That's an increase of 73.1%.
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