Munich (dpa/lby) – The Association of Bavarian Business (vbw) sees “a structural threat to Bavaria as a business location” in view of the energy crisis, shortage of skilled workers and economic downturn. Vbw President Wolfram Hatz said on Thursday in Munich that energy had not only become much more expensive, but that “supply security is no longer given”.
The current economic situation is still quite decent because the order backlog is high and the job market is stable. But “the Bavarian economy is on the way to recession,” said Hatz. Inflation reduces the purchasing power of consumers, and exports are also weakening. Orders could not be processed due to missing parts. Industrial production and the construction sector were already below the previous year in the third quarter. In the current fourth quarter, the added value of the Bavarian economy is shrinking overall. That will continue early next year.
The vbw index has fallen from 126 to 103 points since spring. He is still in the long-term average, the “glass is still half full, but it will continue to empty in the coming weeks and months,” said Hatz.
He sharply criticized the EU: Although companies have energy problems to the hilt, Brussels is preventing state aid. Although the auto industry was missing parts front and back, Brussels is now burdening companies with a new “bureaucracy monster” with the supply chain law, said Hatz: “It’s just unspeakable.”
What the energy supply will look like in a year and in the future is questionable. So far he has only heard announcements, said Hatz. The German nuclear power plants must continue to run, and “we now need a master plan for energy 2030 with a clear concept for a hydrogen economy,” demanded Hatz.
The shortage of skilled workers and workers will increase. “It can happen that we see increased unemployment and at the same time a lack of skilled workers because certain qualifications are not available,” said the vbw President. The car industry, for example, needs fewer and different parts from suppliers for electric cars, said CEO Bertram Brossardt. Despite retraining, some of the employees will have to look for work in other sectors or regions or become unemployed.
