Skilled craftspeople who are building the future

Without the skilled trades, there would be no renewable energy, no thermal insulation and no mobility transition. Every day, around 3.1 million skilled craftspeople and 250,000 apprentices work to make Germany more sustainable and climate-friendly. According to the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), 490,000 skilled crafts companies in around 30 specialist fields are working to implement the climate transition.

Implementing the energy transition

A particularly high number of new professions are to be found in the renewable energies sector. As specialists in servicing and repairing wind power plants, wind power engineers for example contribute directly to producing energy from renewable sources. They often work at high altitudes and need to have mechanical and electrotechnical knowledge.

More and more private households and businesses are opting for solar power. Around 2.6 million photovoltaic plants were installed on roofs and properties in Germany in 2023, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Photovoltaic engineers plan the installation of plants - from their assembly and commissioning to the monitoring of their output. Anyone wanting to train as a photovoltaic engineer will need to have completed an apprenticeship in one of the skilled crafts, for example as an electrical engineer or roofer.

Shaping the mobility transition

Electric cars are essential when it comes to advancing the mobility transition. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 32.2 percent more electric cars were registered in Germany in 2022 than in the year before. Well trained experts are needed to manufacture and service them.

Electronics engineers specialising in machines and drive technology build the engines, install and connect the drive systems and service the equipment. Vehicle mechatronics engineers are responsible for maintaining electric cars . They test the systems and carry out repairs.

Connecting smart homes

The heating system warms up your home even before you get back. Lamps go on automatically as soon as it gets dark. To set up a smart home, skilled craftspeople are needed. E

lectronic engineers specialising in building system integration are responsible for planning, integrating and connecting up smart home solutions. They install the necessary software and conduct system tests. To avoid any malfunctions, they carry out regular checks, repair defective systems and remedy any software errors.