Developing other perspectives and a sense of community while doing valuable work that too few would otherwise want to do - these are arguments in favor of introducing a compulsory social year. As far as the shortage of skilled workers is concerned, the Federal Employment Agency warns against overly high hopes.
The board member for regions at the Federal Employment Agency (BA), Daniel Terzenbach, does not consider a compulsory social year to be the right way to combat the shortage of skilled workers. "A compulsory social year can help with personality development, but it would not solve the labor shortage in the long term," Terzenbach told the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland".
"In a compulsory year, school leavers would only get an insight into part of the labor market," he emphasized. "It is not a substitute for a broad orientation on the multitude of professions, which also suits one's own interests and strengths."
The BA board spoke out in favor of early career orientation while still at school - "ideally from the 5th grade." He went on to say: "The world of work can be brought closer in a playful way and then tried out bit by bit through internships in the company."
SPD leader Saskia Esken has meanwhile called for an offensive to integrate skilled workers. "When my generation, i.e. the boomer generation, retires, there will really be a problem. That's why we have to increase immigration - and ensure that integration succeeds," she told the newspapers of the Funke media group. "We need an improved welcoming culture. We're talking about the immigration of skilled workers, but people are coming. We have to move from an immigration society to an integration society."
Of course, the individual must be willing to become part of society, said Esken. "But we as a society must also be open to accepting people and supporting them to the best of our ability in their integration."
