The decline in the German automotive sector makes it difficult for young engineers to find jobs
Key Points
- The stagnation in the German automotive sector is making it severely difficult for young engineers to find jobs.
- An experienced software engineer has been unemployed for a long time despite making over 50 job applications.
- Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers like BYD and Xpeng are taking away the global market shares of German companies.
- The unemployment rate in the field of engineering has increased significantly today compared to the golden period of 3 percent between 2015-2017.
By the Numbers
The contraction of the automotive industry in Germany and the intense competition from Chinese electric car manufacturers are making it increasingly difficult for young engineers to find employment. Max Pile, a 30-year-old software engineer trained in Computer Vision and with experience at a major automotive supplier, remains unemployed despite years of job hunting and submitting over 50 applications.
Between 2015-2017, German engineers were among the most sought-after professionals in the labor market; they could even secure jobs before graduating. During that period, the unemployment rate in engineering was at a remarkably low level of 3 percent. Today, however, this golden age appears to have ended. In China, the world's largest automobile market, local electric vehicle brands such as BYD and Xpeng have seriously seized the market share of German manufacturers.
This situation is forcing German automotive giants, which are trying to maintain their export-driven structure, into a painful transformation. Germany had previously managed to survive the automotive collapse experienced by the UK, France, and Italy without suffering damage. Transport economist Thomas Puls from the German Economic Research Institute points out the effects of this sharp decline in the sector, noting that automobile production in the country was at much higher levels 10 years ago.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the main reason for the stagnation in the German automotive sector?
- Along with the sector's economic stagnation, the main reason is the fierce competition created by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers such as BYD and Xpeng, especially in the global market in China.
- When was the 'golden age' for German engineers in the past, and what was it like?
- Between 2015-2017, the demand for engineers was very high. They could find jobs before graduating, and the unemployment rate in the sector was only around 3 percent.
- What is the situation of the young engineers covered in the news?
- Even engineers specialized in Computer Vision, which is critical for autonomous driving technologies, struggle to find jobs; a qualified engineer can remain unemployed despite making over 50 applications.
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