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Education & Modern Work
New work concepts, digitalized workplaces, changing expectations of employees: The world of work is undergoing rapid change, placing high demands on politics, society and companies. But what does this mean in concrete terms? How can companies and educational institutions prepare for the change in order to take advantage of the transformation?

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In difficult economic times, the VDMA supports its members with valuable information and personalised advice. Together, we find the right course and strengthen the resilience of companies.

Header-Bildung & Modernes Arbeiten

Education & Modern Work
New work concepts, digitalized workplaces, changing expectations of employees: The world of work is undergoing rapid change, placing high demands on politics, society and companies. But what does this mean in concrete terms? How can companies and educational institutions prepare for the change in order to take advantage of the transformation?

Unsere Themen im Ăśberblick

Arbeitsmarktpolitik
Arbeitsrecht
Fachkräftesicherung
Fort- & Weiterbildung
Home-Office
Ingenieurausbildung
Ingenieurinnen
Innovationskultur
Jobs im Maschinenbau
Made ING Germay
Nachwuchsgewinnung
Nachwuchskampagne
Organisation & Kultur
Personalmarketing & Rekrutierung
Organisation & Kultur
Personalmarketing & Rekrutierung
Arbeitsrecht

Our expert and focus topics

Our expert and focus topics
Further education & training
VDMA Academy: Our courses help you to develop specific skills and actively shape your professional development. Discover our conferences, seminars, and digital learning formats.
VDMA Young Talent Campaign TALENTMASCHINE
We know of many good examples of members and universities that cooperate with schools in their region, offer open days, give interns their first career insights and much more.
Female engineers
Mechanical and plant engineering opens up individual career paths and a wide range of opportunities for female engineers. The occupational field is characterized by innovation, sustainability and an exciting working environment. Women engineers can shape the future.
Mechanical engineering specialists
Shortage of skilled workers in mechanical and plant engineering. Learn all about challenges, solutions, trends and best practices to overcome the shortage of skilled workers.
Youth recruitment & school
In order to attract those leaving school to work in the mechanical engineering sector, traditional measures no longer suffice in many places. In the future, those who want to combat the shortage of specialist staff will resort to a clever combination of cooperative school programs along with traditional offline and online measures. On this page you will find useful information, ideas, studies and downloads on this topic. You can also find out here how you as a member can benefit from VDMA offers.
Engineering education for the mechanical engineering sector
For many employees, working in a home office is a completely new situation that has caught them very unprepared due to the pandemic. This raises a host of practical and legal issues.
Made ING Germany
Digitization is the buzzword of today. Innovation has been a hot topic for a long time, and Industrie 4.0 is accepted as a standard. In order to breathe life into these concepts, clever minds and adequate training concepts are needed.
Securing skilled workers
Almost 60 percent of employees in the mechanical and plant engineering sector are skilled workers. Alongside engineers, they shape the role of mechanical and plant engineering as a decisive enabler for green technologies.
Organization and Culture
Both organisation and culture are what make up the company "inside". Both have far-reaching effects on the outside, on customers and their needs and on other external partners. Thus, both are a question of successful cooperation inside and outside.
Culture of innovation
Increasing the ability to innovate in times of digitalization and "VUCA" has been in the spotlight of companies in our industry for several years. Especially following a crisis, it is crucial to be ready and prepared with the right business models as well as suitable systems and structures, and to break away from old habits. The culture of innovation is an important basis and prerequisite for all efforts. If you want hard successes, you should start soft.
Home Office
For many employees, working in a home office is a completely new situation that has caught them very unprepared due to the pandemic. This raises a host of practical and legal issues.
Personnel Marketing & Recruitment
The shortage of skilled workers has arrived in the present. The labour market has turned and companies are receiving a decreasing number of applications. Demography, digitalisation, democratisation and decentralisation pose major challenges for the economy. Personnel recruitment must now take new paths.
Labor law
Whether it be short-time work, service contracts, working shifts or home office, the parameters for modern work and flexible crisis measures are changing continuously.
Labor Market
Competitiveness, growth and job security require adaptability, value creation based on the division of labour and a flexible labour market. Digitalisation requires modern framework conditions for Work 4.0.

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From our content

From our content
Involvement of the works council when setting up a reporting office

The works council must be involved when setting up a reporting office in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Act.

National and alliance defense: Situation and consequences for employers

Germany's security situation has changed dramatically. A state of tension or a NATO, alliance or defence case can no longer be ruled out. Strengthening defence capabilities has moved to the top of the political agenda.

High willingness to take on employees & growing effort in recruiting young talent

The training situation in the mechanical and plant engineering sector is generally quite stable. However, there are still too many unfilled training positions.

Mission engineering profession - passion for technology moves

Innovative approaches to generate enthusiasm for STEM professions and strengthen cooperation between education and industry at the 3rd Hamburg Engineering Summit

"Discrimination against domestic companies"

In an already tense economic situation, the Collective Bargaining Act is a step in the wrong direction. The effect is to burden medium-sized companies in Germany but not foreign competitors.

"Googling" triggers information obligations

"Googling" as part of a recruitment process triggers information obligations towards the applicant and can lead to a claim for compensation.

Trainees as ambassadors for technical professions

Due to the authentic approach, many companies rely on their own trainees to reach pupils when recruiting young talent. The VDMA offers the right virtual training for your technical trainees.

VDMA calls for minimum standards and more quality measurement in schools

According to the OECD education report, Germany only remains in the international midfield - despite increased spending on education. The VDMA is therefore calling for minimum standards in German and mathematics as well as targeted quality assurance measures in the education system.

A little more clarity in the application of telecommunications secrecy

According to the Federal Network Agency, telecommunications secrecy no longer applies to employers when employees use company email accounts privately.

No continued payment of remuneration due to tattoo complications

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Startup Area at EMO 2025 connects tradition with innovation

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Military service: Cabinet approves draft law

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We cannot afford to deny reality!

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Chatting with smart machines

Assistance systems and technology-supported learning help free up resources in production

Record registrations for the Special Education Show-case

EMO 2025 offers a diverse program for young talent

"Painful reforms are unavoidable"

The mechanical engineering industry has to cope with serious additional burdens: US tariffs are making business considerably more difficult, while rising social security contributions and high taxes are weakening companies. The government needs to act quickly.

Circular economy meets education

Millions of tons of plastic end up unstructured in recycling or in the environment every day. But with Future Technologies and education, waste can be turned into something new: knowledge, enthusiasm and the chance for a sustainable future.

Olena Barkova and software development

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Navigating Recruitment Challenges in China

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Career opportunities in maritime mechanical engineering

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Job cuts continue - pressure for reform grows

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"Compulsory compliance is an expression of mistrust"

Companies in the machinery and equipment manufacturing sector pay well, but still are to be branded by means of the Collective Bargaining Compliance Law. The government is steering the wrong course here - it's the same for social spending.

"We have to ask more from all employees!"

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"Success can only be achieved with production technologies!"

Production technologies are driving Germany forward as a high-tech country. The new Hightech-Agenda is heading in the right direction, but this progress is still only on paper.

Salary Report China

Salary benchmarks for selected professional positions in Chinese mechanical engineering - exclusively for members

Fine for No-poaching Agreement

No-poaching agreements have been in the sights of antitrust authorities for some time. Now the European Commission has imposed severe fines for the first time.

Increase in the statutory minimum wage agreed

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"Additional social spending is anti-benefit"

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Facts and figures: Research and innovation

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Laws that must be posted: New online version published

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"Weeks of Technology" send a strong signal for recruiting young talent

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Changes under the Maternity Protection Adjustment Act

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"More employment is only possible with lower non-wage labor costs"

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Dialogue on entry and stay for business purposes

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AI competence in companies

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MaSHEnenbau - Attracting and retaining female engineers and developing careers

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Auf den Punkt Zitat Education & Modern Work

„Our member companies are doing a good job in technical training. The trainees are highly satisfied.“

Dr. Jörg Friedrich, Head of VDMA Education

Auf den Punkt Zahl Education & Modern Work

5

percent

Around 5 percent of those employed in the mechanical engineering sector are apprentices. At the same time, 37 percent of companies in the mechanical engineering sector provide training. This means that the mechanical engineering sector has one of the highest training quotas and training company quotas within the manufacturing industry.

Sources: Bundesagentur fĂĽr Arbeit, Destatis

Auf den Punkt Zusammenfassung Bildung & modernes Arbeiten

Summary
The study "Potential of young people in the transition from school to work" shows that:
  • Many young people in the transition phase between school and working life are suitable for training in the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
  • They have comparable cognitive and non-cognitive skills to their peers who are already undergoing training.
  • They have practical and technical interests.
  • With targeted support, these young people could be recruited for careers in mechanical and plant engineering.

VdmaSambaEvents

Events

Thu. 13.11.25 Fri. 14.11.25

  • Apprenticeship Placements

13. + November 14, 2025 | Because of the authentic approach, many companies rely on their own trainees to reach students when recruiting young talent. The VDMA offers the right digital training for your technical trainees.

Places available

Thu. 11.12.25 Fri. 12.12.25

  • Apprenticeship Placements

11. + December 12, 2025 | Because of the authentic approach, many companies rely on their own trainees to reach students when recruiting young talent. The VDMA offers the right digital training for your technical trainees.

Places available

Our services

Our services
Working Group HR
The central working HR group takes up current topics in HR work and makes them transferable for the practice of our members.

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VDMA salary study
How much do development engineers and IT specialists earn in a medium-sized company? The VDMA salary study clarifies the situation and provides indications for company-specific salary benchmarking.
Fit for the future - advanced training courses at the VDMA Academy
Being the VDMA's training academy, we support you in developing new competencies. Contact us - we will gladly advise you!
Personal consultation on all aspects of labor law
The VDMA Legal Department provides its members with a continually updated overview of the decisions and legal developments relevant to businesses and HR managers.
Guide to action for recruiting young talent
Companies today need to recruit young apprentices at an early stage. The new VDMA "Handlungsleitfaden Nachwuchswerbung" (Guide to action for recruiting young talent) demonstrates how this is possible.
Studies & Surveys
The VDMA regularly publishes studies and surveys on engineering studies and derives suitable positions and statements from them.
Talent machine - the young talent portal for the mechanical engineering industry
Portal with news, info, internship job exchange and Best Practices for educational and personnel managers
Our services in the field of higher education
VDMA maintains a wide range of services for member companies, but also for universities and media agencies in the field of engineering studies. Get an overview here.

exklusiv

Facts and figures: Education and workforce in mechanical engineering
In our theme publications, you will find facts, figures and data related to vocational training, engineering courses, skilled workers, mechanical engineers and women in mechanical engineering.
Fit for the future - advanced training courses at the Institute for Mechanical Engineering
Being the VDMA's training academy, we support you in developing new competencies. Contact us - we will gladly advise you!

AusschĂĽsse

Committees
Education & Modern Working Committee
VDMA Education Committee
The VDMA Education Committee is the authoritative body for networking and exchange among VDMA member companies on education topics, as well as for monitoring and steering VDMA activities in this area.

Chair

Dipl.-Ing. (DH) Steffen Stippl

HOMAG GmbH

Legal Working Group
Working Group Labour Law
With a fixed group of participants, employment law problems and developments in the area of case law and legislation are discussed at regular intervals and positions are developed. The impact of digitalisation on the world of work and the associated challenges in terms of employment law are an important part of the format

Management

Fabian Seus

Level 2 Minimal Contact Display

Vorteilskommunikation

Benefits for you as a member

Largest industry network in Europe

3,600 primarily medium-sized member companies in the capital goods industry make the VDMA the largest industrial association in Europe and the most important network organization in the industry.

Strong representation of interests

The VDMA is the most important voice of the machinery and equipment manufacturing industry. It represents the common economic, technical and scientific interests of the industry in Germany and around the world.

A wide range of services

More than 500 VDMA employees worldwide support you with practical services to make the right decisions in your company - along the entire value chain.