Opportunities for specialists: company succession as a new perspective

Opportunities for specialists: company succession as a new perspective

Stuttgart, Deutschland - Minister of Economic Affairs Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut emphasized at today's two-day conference of Economics in Stuttgart that the current personnel loss in industry offers significant opportunities for specialists and managers. In particular, she sees experienced specialists who are affected by job losses in a good position to become a company successor. The minister pointed out that the company succession should be taken into account more in the mediation by regional turntables.

Hoffmeister-Kraut also called for a signal to the federal government to make takeover processes both easier and faster. The subsequent print in German middle class has been unbroken: According to the KfW successor monitoring 2024, 54 % of the company owners in Germany are 55 years or older. Between 2024 and 2028 there is a company succession in 14 % of medium -sized companies, which will undoubtedly have a significant influence on the economic landscape.

change of ownership in medium -sized companies

In 2022 there were 5,986 companies in Baden-Württemberg, which reflected on an increase to 6,088 in 2023. The current situation of the companies is also shaped by the upcoming generation change, with not all entrepreneurs strive for their company. By the end of 2025, a total of 231,000 companies are considering closing their doors, which also burdens the willingness to invest.

While 72 % of the companies surveyed indicate the lack of suitable successor candidates than the most common hurdle in corporate successes, bureaucratic hurdles and legal and tax complexity for 31 % are an important obstacle. Experts emphasize that a secure succession can significantly increase the willingness to invest, with an average investment plan of 40 %, if the successor regulations at the latest within two Years have been clarified.

shortage of skilled workers as a challenge

The shortage of skilled workers represents another significant challenge for the companies. This is reinforced by demographic change and by the unclear succession planning. It is urgently needed that solutions are found in order to optimize both the successor and the generation of skilled workers so that the German medium -sized company will continue to be competitive in the future. The lack of suitable specialists could thus prove to be a potential economic risk.

The ministerial conference, which is under the chairmanship of Baden-Württemberg, will continue to focus on the importance of promoting entrepreneurship and improving the conditions for founders. These directional discussions are crucial in order to keep the middle class strong and innovative in the future.

For more information about the challenges and possibilities of company succession in German middle class, the reports of kfw and ifo