Fight for survival: Tourism in MV suffers from a shortage of skilled workers!

Fight for survival: Tourism in MV suffers from a shortage of skilled workers!

The 2025 tourism season in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is proving to be a real flash in the pan: This is what he reports SVZ that the industry is facing some unpleasant challenges. Lars Schwarz, the head of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, points out that restaurants, hotels and restaurants often look empty despite great efforts. A key reason for this is the acute shortage of skilled workers, which is becoming increasingly urgent.

But what exactly is behind this problem? René Domke, spokesman for the FDP group in the state parliament, has a clear view: There are not too few workers available, but rather the general conditions for the companies are extremely bad. High taxes and duties depress the motivation of entrepreneurs and have a demotivating effect on potential employees. Since many people are less interested in eating out or traveling in uncertain times, the incentive to enter this industry is also decreasing.

Skilled labor shortage and decline in sales

The daily news reports that the situation is quite precarious. In June 2024, there was a shortage of around 8,800 skilled workers in the hotel and restaurant industry - that's 45 percent fewer than the year before. But even that is not enough, because one in four open positions could not be filled by a qualified person. There is a massive shortage of personnel, particularly in the professions of trained chefs, in catering services and in system catering.

Another setback came in the form of a decline in sales of almost 11 percent in the first half of 2024. The industry is suffering from increased costs for personnel and food, and the expiry of the reduced VAT on food is also causing problems for restaurateurs. In order to counteract the decline, unskilled workers have already been resorted to and ready meals are increasingly finding their way into the kitchens of companies.

Future perspectives and possible solutions

The Kofa reports a rapid decline in the number of applicants for training positions in the catering industry. While 33,000 applicants were counted in 2009, there were only 12,000 in 2022. In the catering sector, a significant proportion of training positions remain unfilled - a challenge that not only affects quality, but also the quality of life in the region.

In order not to stretch their wings, industry representatives are calling for a reform of tax and contribution policy in order to increase the attractiveness of catering and hotel jobs. It is important to present the professions in an appealing way, to promote career orientation, to attract career changers and to promote the recruitment of foreign skilled workers. At a time when the travel and hospitality markets should be recovering, it is time for policymakers and business leaders to work together to address these fundamental challenges.

The warning signals are clear: without measures, the situation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will not improve. It remains exciting to see whether the industry players will learn lessons and actively work on solutions.