Over 50% of supply chain problems in the DACH region can be traced back to a lack of skilled workers, and more than 97% of mid-market companies are currently struggling with supply chain issues. Most companies report that their biggest operational challenges lie in procurement and sourcing.

In our live webinar "Skilled Labor Shortage Along the Supply Chain: Strategies for Successfully Managing Challenges in Procurement" with Prof. Dr. Florian C. Kleemann, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Marcel Weller, Head of Customer Success at Tacto, and Florian Findeis, Business Development at Tacto, we show how you can address these challenges.

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The skilled labor shortage poses a significant challenge for companies, especially along the supply chain. Last year, 84% of companies worldwide and 97% of companies in the DACH region struggled with disruptions in their supply chains. Almost 50% of these problems were attributable to a lack of skilled workers. Industries such as IT, consumer goods, transport, logistics, and automotive are particularly affected.

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82% of employers report difficulties finding the skilled workers they need and filling open positions. The shortage is greatest in IT and data skills. The mid-market is particularly affected, as it has limited resources for recruiting and staff development and is often tied to its region.

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Challenges and Effects of the Skilled Labor Shortage

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The skilled labor shortage leads to significant operational challenges. Manufacturing delays, reduced production capacity, and quality defects are direct consequences. Costs also rise due to higher wages, overtime, and investments in training and development. The lack of qualified staff results in innovation backlogs, delayed development projects, and difficulties adopting new technologies.

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Indirectly, the skilled labor shortage affects companies' flexibility and responsiveness. The ability to react to market changes is limited, and the risk of production standstills increases. Long-term supplier relationships suffer, and building new partnerships becomes more difficult.

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Several factors contribute to the skilled labor shortage, including demographic change, an aging society, and a smaller pool of potentially suitable staff. Slow digitalization and increased supply chain complexity create new requirements and job profiles. The COVID-19 crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have further aggravated the situation.

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Strategies for Managing the Skilled Labor Shortage

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The webinar presented several recommendations for addressing the challenges of the skilled labor shortage. These include digitalizing procurement processes to reduce manual tasks and increase efficiency. Strategic supplier management helps identify risks early and increase reliability in the supply chain. Data-driven decision-making enables well-founded decisions through proactive planning and AI-driven analytics.

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Another important aspect is the targeted management of existing staff and a focus on continued training. International recruiting makes it possible to reach potential employees outside the organization.

In our live webinar "Skilled Labor Shortage Along the Supply Chain: Strategies for Successfully Managing Challenges in Procurement" with Prof. Dr. Florian C. Kleemann, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Munich University of Applied Sciences, Marcel Weller, Head of Customer Success at Tacto, and Florian Findeis, Business Development at Tacto, we show how you can address these challenges.