Education & Modern Work - vdma.org

In May 2025, the VDMA is launching a new funding project with the aim of supporting female engineers in their professional development and sensitizing key stakeholders in companies to the gender dimension of corporate culture.

Verena Grifone Fuchs, who holds a doctorate in electrical engineering, works as a technical project manager at Thomas Magnete. This role requires her to have a keen eye for detail, excellent communication skills and technical expertise.

Forwarding of personal employee data by works council member via private email account justifies exclusion from works council

The newly formed government wants to maintain the voluntary nature of military service. In addition, it plans to further strengthen the reserve and homeland security and to better anchor them structurally and socially.

Compensation after loss of control of data

Disclosure of health data by employers can lead to compensation.

Companies in Germany urgently need relief, also in terms of labor market regulations. Switching to a maximum weekly working time would be an important step towards more flexibility.

Mental health is a strategic success factor: investing in leadership, team spirit and culture reduces absenteeism and boosts motivation, innovation and employee loyalty.

Current labor law and political decisions present companies with new challenges - an overview of the most important changes and practical recommendations for implementation.

Germany brings up the rear of the industrialized nations in terms of forecast economic growth. Reforms are also needed in the labor market, which can be perceived as painful.

Many companies are still facing bottlenecks in the recruitment of young talent. The VDMA is therefore launching the "Weeks of Technology" together with its members and universities.

Strengthen the resilience of your company. Our series of events shows ways to restructure in the mechanical and plant engineering industry in North Rhine-Westphalia - compact, practical and future-oriented.

The BAG specifies the requirements for non-material claims for damages under Art. 82 para. 1 GDPR.

For the fifth time, exhibitors and VDMA members presented themselves to young visitors and provided exciting insights into the various apprenticeships in the construction equipment industry.

No economic growth, an ageing society and rising expenditure and contributions: The challenges in labor market and social policy could hardly be greater.

The future of pension funding is the biggest gap in the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD. Unpopular measures are also needed to make pensions fit for the future.

On April 11, 2025, the 2025 garnishment exemption limits pursuant to Section 850c ZPO were published in the Federal Law Gazette.

In economically challenging times, companies are often faced with the difficult task of optimizing their personnel costs.

Young people in transition are an often overlooked but potentially valuable target group - also for the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides comprehensive employment and wage statistics. In our interactive report, we clearly present data by industry, occupational group and location.

Mechanical engineering is full of opportunities - but many young women are still hesitant. We want to change that with exclusive insights as part of a series of excursions for technology students.

The number of international students in Germany is growing steadily. This is good news for mechanical engineering.

The labor market is sending a clear signal: structural reforms are needed now instead of further social benefits, even if they may be unpopular.

Company agreements must be fully GDPR-compliant.

To ensure the competitiveness of the mechanical and plant engineering industry, the VDMA is calling for reliable economic framework conditions. A strong industry means a strong economy.

The parties to the collective agreement in the M E industry in Baden-Württemberg have concluded a collective agreement that enables companies to lend employees to each other in order to avoid short-time working or redundancies.

IG Metall wants to secure industrial jobs by giving preference to companies bound by collective agreements. This is the wrong approach.

87 percent of mechanical engineering apprentices are satisfied or even very satisfied with their apprenticeship. This is the result of a recent VDMA survey.

Katharina, an enthusiastic mechatronics engineer, is a planning engineer at Festool. She designs, procures and commissions production systems for high-quality electric motors. A great deal of technology and practical work make her everday work varied

DescriptionIf done well and in an interesting way, addressing parents in a targeted manner can make an important contribution to securing the next generation of skilled workers in the long term.

In episode 7 of the video series "Mechanical Engineering meets Young Professionals", Miriam Härter and Florian Frühbeis from HAWE Hydraulik SE present their tasks at the plant in Freising.

Job advertisements remain a key element of successful recruitment. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to make job advertisements more target group-oriented and effective.

Achieving corporate resilience requires risk management, supply chain management, adaptability, employee engagement, new technologies and crisis management. This requires competent managers and employees.

A survey of around 550 companies shows: 62 percent of companies offer dual studies - and benefit from them. This is because most of the junior staff stay with the company that trains them.

Through the transfer of technology and knowledge, students receive practical training and companies can retain skilled workers. SMEs should be supported in cooperations in university teaching.

Managers face particular challenges in economically difficult times. They have to convey stability while experiencing uncertainty themselves.

Strengthening flexibility and resilience is essential for companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector to successfully overcome crises and remain competitive in the long term.

In economically challenging times, companies face the difficult task of communicating restructuring, short-time work or even job cuts.

The mechanical engineering sector is feeling the effects of the recession - yet companies only reduced their workforce by just under 1% in 2024. Even now, the core workforce is to be retained as much as possible.

Every year, around 250,000 young people try to find their way into vocational training after leaving school with the help of the transition area. There is a wide range of programs to choose from, but too often companies and young people do not find a match.

Pay slips may only be provided online

The VDMA has addressed extensive demands to politicians. What do the parties think? Our overview shows the extent to which the mechanical and plant engineering industry is taken into account in the programs for the federal election on February 23, 2025.

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSJ) has commissioned a special study on the issue of father-friendliness in mechanical and plant engineering as part of the "Success Factor Family" corporate program.

Assistance from the VDMA legal department on dismissals for operational reasons

On January 30, 2025, the Bundestag passed amendments to maternity protection in the event of miscarriages (printed matter 20/14231). The changes will come into force on June 1, 2025.

In the event of an increasing lack of orders and a lack of capacity utilization, the instrument of short-time work combined with short-time work compensation is an option for companies and employees.

By denying a trade union the right of digital access to the company, the BAG sets limits to the institutional freedom of association.

Employment in the mechanical and plant engineering sector is also expected to fall slightly this year. This makes it all the more important to reduce labor costs now.

Mechanical and plant engineering offers female engineers a wide range of career opportunities. The FEMWORX congress at the Hannover Messe shows how more women can be attracted to engineering professions.

Less bureaucracy, a maximum tax rate of 25% and an efficient infrastructure are essential to ensure competitiveness. Germany will only remain a strong industrial location through bold reforms.