To tackle Hesse’s growing labor and skilled worker shortage, the state government has launched the “Future Convention on Skilled and Labor Workforce for Hesse” (Zukunftskonvent Fach- und Arbeitskräfte für Hessen). The initiative, chaired by Labor and Social Affairs Minister Heike Hofmann, was established on March 21, 2025, with academic support from Goethe University’s Institute for Economics, Labour and Culture (IWAK).
The convention builds on the “New Alliance for Securing Skilled Labor in Hesse” (Neue Bündnis Fachkräftesicherung Hessen) and brings together representatives from the state government, the Hessian economy, trade unions, administration, the labor sector, academia, regional authorities, and civil society. It will meet regularly to advance workforce security in Hesse. “Securing Hesse’s workforce – both skilled and unskilled – is a key priority for the Hessian state government. Fighting for a solution together is a crucial step in ensuring our region’s economic and technological future,”said Minister Hofmann.“Success depends on the collaboration of all involved stakeholders, which is exactly what this newly constituted convention guarantees.”
Operating under the motto “Engage, Participate, and Act”, the convention will focus on skilled labor migration, vocational training, work-life balance, and continuing education. These four working groups aim to connect policies with practical realities, ensuring solutions are tailored to economic needs and people’s living and working conditions.
Dr. Christa Larsen, head of IWAK and a member of the convention, stressed the urgency of the issue: “By 2030, Hesse alone is projected to face a shortage of around 240,000 skilled workers.” Demographic change will have a particularly strong impact on the labor and training market as well as regional economic hubs over the next thirty years. At the same time, ongoing structural changes in industry and digitalization, coupled with global developments, could partially mitigate the demographic impact in certain occupational fields. “Nevertheless, workforce demand will continue to be significantly shaped by the retirement-related exit of skilled and unskilled workers from the job market across many sectors. Additionally, the healthcare and nursing professions will see further demand increases due to an aging population,” Larsen added.The shortage spans all regions and industries, affecting both urban and rural areas as well as public administration, which is increasingly facing staff shortages. Dr. Frank Martin, head of the Federal Employment Agency’s Regional Directorate Hesse and deputy chair of the new convention, emphasized that workforce shortages are a growth constraint and could undermine Hesse’s economic competitiveness. He pointed out that efforts in energy pricing and speeding up approval processes are crucial, but they will be ineffective if businesses cannot find workers to operate machines or process permits.
