Vietnamese trainees: solution to the shortage of skilled workers in Magdeburg!

Vietnamese trainees: solution to the shortage of skilled workers in Magdeburg!

In times of increasing shortage of skilled workers, an interesting development is emerging in Saxony-Anhalt: companies like L&W Elektrik in Magdeburg rely on international talent to fill their training positions. The electrical company, which has over 100 employees, including 20 trainees, has already hired three young Vietnamese to fill a gap that is becoming ever larger in the region. Junior boss Alexander Laube makes it clear that they want to hire two more trainees from Vietnam next year - provided the applications are correct. The initiative MDR shows how important these trainees are for companies and the variety of training occupations this creates.

The shortage of skilled workers is not just a problem in Magdeburg, but also affects the whole of Saxony-Anhalt. There is a desperate need for young talent, particularly in the hospitality and craft sectors. This is where the Viethoga project comes into play, which has been bringing Vietnamese trainees to the region since 2017. In total, almost 700 young people were able to receive qualifications, and the training offering has since been expanded to include craft and technical professions. Burghard Bannier, who is valued by Viethoga, emphasizes that both the trainees receive good training and the companies receive strong support.

Viethoga as a bridge to new perspectives

Viethoga's concept builds on an earlier cooperation project between the GDR and Vietnam and shows how important exchange between the countries is. Language schools in Vietnam were acquired between 2018 and 2019 in order to optimally prepare trainees for their stay in Germany. After a Corona break, the project was revived in 2022 and has found a place in the state project for recruiting skilled workers since June 2024. The cooperation with the Goethe-Institut also improves the language skills of the trainees significantly.

The positive response from companies speaks for the success of the program: many employers value the qualified graduates who work in a variety of professional groups. Around 130 Vietnamese trainees are currently employed in Saxony-Anhalt and take on roles in over 230 different training occupations, from dental specialists to bank employees.

A look at the future

As [ZEIT](https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/2024-08/fachkraeftelack-trainingsplaetze-aus trainees-ausland-study) reports, young talent continues to be an urgent issue in Germany. In 2023, there were almost 14 percent unfilled training positions, which is a historic high. Companies are increasingly looking for young people without German citizenship, particularly in shortage professions such as electrical engineering.

The need to address these challenges is clear. While the number of foreign trainees has almost doubled since 2009, the proportion of Germans starting training remains declining. The qualifications of young people from abroad are in demand, and many of them see returning to Vietnam as an opportunity to enrich their society. This is perceived as a win-win situation that opens up new horizons not only for companies in Saxony-Anhalt, but also for Vietnamese trainees.

The Viethoga project impressively shows how collaboration and international perspectives can contribute to a win-win situation for everyone involved - and we hope for promising developments in the future.