"Not phantom pain, but real pain" : an economic appraisal of the shortage of skilled workers. An interview with the labour market researcher Herbert Brücker

Abstract

The article contains a recorded interview with the labour market researcher, Herbert Brücker. Professor Brücker terms the current situation on the labour market in respect to the increasing shortage of skilled workers as 'not yet dramatic'. For instance, there are about three million unemployed against roughly one million vacant jobs. The fact that there are still nevertheless problems in filling positions results from a mismatch between open positions and the unemployed. For the enterprises concerned, Professor Brücker advocates far-sighted personnel planning which 'creates an orientation over and above the necessary quantity of qualification and further training, or what and how much should be invested in education'. In addition he considers it sensible to recruit skilled workers from abroad. (IAB)

Cite article

Brücker, H. & Volkwein, C. (2012): "Kein Phantomleiden, sondern echte Schmerzen". Eine volkswirtschaftliche Einordnung des Fachkräftemangels. Ein Interview mit dem Arbeitsmarktforscher Herbert Brücker. In: J. Funk & N. Hummel (Hrsg.) (2012): Von Leuchttürmen, Nebelbänken und Eisbergen : Fachkräftesicherung braucht Weitsicht (Wiesbadener Gespräche zur Sozialpolitik, 08), p. 27-40.