Baker in need: Young talent deficit threatens the craft in the Gießen district!

Baker in need: Young talent deficit threatens the craft in the Gießen district!

In the district of Gießen, a worrying lack of young talent in the baking trade is noticeable. Around 850 specialists are currently available who are responsible for the preparation and sale of bread, rolls and butter cake. Andreas Kampmann from the Food Guest Gaststätten union (NGG) recently emphasized that it was urgently needed to make the professions in the back industry more attractive. Many bakers have to get up in the middle of the night, which makes working conditions even more difficult. A current survey, the "bakery monitor", shows alarming results: About half of the employees in the back industry often work overtime, while over 80 percent of great time pressure and stress report.

The lack of personnel has a fatal impact on the work situation. 84 percent of the respondents complain that this deficiency leads to noticeable loads. There are currently only 45 trainees in the 44 companies in the back industry in the district of Gießen. This is particularly questionable because every fourth trainee has a migration background in the industry. According to nggg.net a trend has been observed in the past that bakeries have increasingly hired to counteract the shortage of skilled workers.

growing challenges in the industry

The baked goods industry in Germany is faced with a profound structural change, in particular the bakery trade is badly affected. According to boeckler.de the number of businesses has been sank by 30 percent in the past ten years, which has led to a loss of 20,000 jobs since 2014. The total turnover of the industry rose to 21.8 billion euros in 2023, but the decline in companies and the increasing number of part -time staff - from 30 to 39 percent among employees subject to social security contributions - are alarming indicators for the industry.

The WHD (Germany Chancellery) carries out a comprehensive industry analysis that goes beyond a literature analysis, statistical evaluation and 27 interviews with association representatives, NGG and companies. A nationwide online survey, which was carried out between October 3, 2024 and February 24, 2025, showed that 86 percent of the employees are affected by high time pressure and stress. 73 percent of the trainees were also interviewed, with many unsure whether their training ends with a takeover. In addition, 58 percent indicate that the remuneration is too low.

outlook and future of the industry

The NGG plans to negotiate better working conditions in the bread industry this year. The aim is to improve working hours and to distribute the stress, especially for shift work. In addition, the NGG is committed to the introduction of wages in all bakeries. In a first step, the training allowances should also be adjusted. Trainees in the bakery trade currently receive 1,020 euros per month at the beginning of the training, while they come to 1,230 euros in the third year of training.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether the planned measures can be reached and the attractiveness of the professions in the back industry can be increased. The industry urgently needs more extensive strategies to strengthen the recruitment and commitment of specialists and thus counteract the current crisis.