By working together, the members of the Meissen skilled labour alliance (Fachkräfteallianz) believe they can help companies in the Meissen rural district attract skilled workers, and keep interested employees in the region. The alliance unites the district trades guild, the Meissen region economic development office, Dresden Chamber of Commerce (IHK), the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) for Dresden and the Upper Elbe Valley, the district council and other members. Its main aim is to provide information, develop ideas and promote projects that benefit both workers in the region and companies seeking skilled workers.
The main aim pursued by the Meissen skilled labour alliance is “work in the region”; in German, “Arbeiten in der Region”, or AIR. That’s why AIR is the name of the rural district’s careers portal, where workers have been able to look for jobs, traineeships, work placements and careers events since May 2017.
The Meissen skilled labour alliance started out by running workshops and information events designed to make employers more aware of the need to balance work and family life: a series named “familienfreund” (“friend of the family”). On the AIR Meissen jobs portal, companies can present themselves and search for skilled workers free of charge.
As well as providing permanent networking opportunities and means of contacting interested employees, the skilled labour alliance has also supported a research study on skilled labour carried out by Regionomica GmbH.
Other funded events have advised companies on how to support staff with mental health issues, or how to integrate Polish employees in the district. The broad range of topics shows the kinds of challenges that companies in the Meissen rural district face now and in future.
At regional business meetups such as those in Radebeul, Riesa or the municipality of Klipphausen, employers can discuss these topics to improve the steps they take to attract skilled workers.
What does the Meissen rural district offer in terms of schools and studying?
You’ve got your bachelor’s, master’s or diploma – now what? The sky’s the limit for students in Saxony. To make the transition from higher education into work go smoothly, and help them find a workplace in the Meissen rural district where possible, the town council set up the AIR Meissen jobs portal.
Every year, the Meissen rural district job centre gets together with the Riesa employment agency to hold a training fair where more than 90 of the region’s companies showcase their businesses to find trainees. In future, a deliberate effort will be made to increase cooperation by the region’s companies and higher education institutes, to tap into potential skilled labour, including those leaving university without graduating.
