Konjunktur: Maschinenbauer werden zuversichtlicher - aber Jobabbau droht
Die deutschen Maschinenbauer schauen optimistischer nach vorn. In manchen Kundenbranchen geht es aufwärts - auch dank Boom um Rüstung und KI. Für die Beschäftigten gibt es aber schlechte Nachrichten.
The German machinery and plant engineering sector is seeing a marked increase in optimism, but a looming threat of job cuts looms, according to the Association of German Engineers (VDMA). In the third quarter, around 34% of surveyed companies rated their current situation as "good" or "very good," compared to just 28% in July. However, 22% now view their situation as "poor" or "very poor."
The outlook is also improving, with 33% expecting an improvement in the next six months, down from 25% in July. Only 10% anticipate a decline. The sector is benefiting from strong demand in smaller industries like defense, aerospace, and medical technology. The electronics sector is also profiting from high AI investments. Meanwhile, the outlook for the chemicals industry remains uncertain, and the automotive industry's crisis is weighing on machinery and automation sectors.
VDMA President Volkswirt Johannes Gernandt noted that there is "cautious optimism," but the industry remains challenging due to geopolitical crises, fierce competition from China, and high costs in Germany. About 57% of companies expect a nominal sales growth this year and 62% next year. However, due to uncertain conditions, around half of the firms anticipate a stable workforce, while more than 30% will face layoffs.
Fewer than one in five companies plan additional hiring (18%). Despite many shocks in recent years, Gernandt highlighted that the German machinery and plant engineering sector has lost around 100,000 jobs since 2019.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
