Revealed: More Than Half of Germany's Bus and Train Drivers Are Switching Gears from Different Careers
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🔄 Career changers
- 🏙️ Berlin
- 🚂🚌 Association of German Transport Companies
- 📝 Survey
Majority of German Public Transport Users Are Career Shifters, Finds Survey - Half or More Bus and Train Operators in Germany Engage in Cross-City Driving
Germany boasts over 100,000 bus drivers, but a whopping 20,000 are missing in the public local transport sector alone, according to VDV. The train driver scene isn't faring much better, with a 3,000-pilot shortage out of a pool of 40,000. Harald Kraus, the head of the VDV personnel committee, sheds light on the predicament, "We're up against some serious staffing issues due to natural population shifts, especially involving drivers."
To beef up the profession, budding bus and train drivers yearn for better work conditions and a dash of respect from passengers. A striking one-third of employees experience conflicts between their job schedules and personal life. The escalating traffic stress also takes a toll on these professionals.
51% of these drivers rate the social standing of their profession as poverty-stricken or extremely so, citing unfavorable working hours and stingy pay as contributing factors. However, more than two-thirds (68.6%) entered the driver's seat simply because they appreciate the thrill of driving, while job security (57.3%) and proximity to their homes (47.3%) remain tempting perks.
To uncover the preferences and challenges of industry workers, VDV, in collaboration with digital consultancy Nexum, interviewed 1,425 employees in the sector.
Though specific factors for the high influx of career changers aren't explicitly detailed in the German context, insights drawn from the UK situation might offer some clues:
- Ageing Workforce: A large chunk of UK train drivers (48 years old on average) are approaching retirement, which might consequently create openings for career-switchers in Germany.
- Staff Shortages: England grapples with a massive driver shortage, which could lead to service disruptions. A similar dilemma in Germany could potentially lure career changers desperate for stable employment.
- Demographic Balance and Workforce Diversity: The UK's train driver community is predominantly male and ethnically homogeneous (less than 9% female, under 12% ethnic minorities). Germany might face similar imbalances, necessitating career changers to ensure a more diverse workforce.
- Economic and Career Opportunities: The UK aims to attract younger people into the driver community by modifying age eligibility. Germany could offer competitive employment opportunities, piquing the interest of career changers seeking secure, fulfilling roles.
To truly understand the driving forces behind career transitions in Germany, comprehensive data from the Association of German Transport Companies or similar authorities is required.
- In light of Germany's bus and train driver shortages, an increasing number of newcomers are opting for careers in the transportation industry in cities like Berlin.
- Science can provide insights into the reasons behind this trend, as the majority of newcomers in the UK's transportation sector come from diverse backgrounds, including careers in other industries.
- As Germany's technology and business sectors continue to grow, career opportunities in work-wellness, health-and-and-wellness, and finance industries are becoming more appealing to potential transportation industry newcomers.
- To foster a thriving, dynamic workforce in the German transportation sector, understanding the preferences and challenges faced by career changers through surveys and data analysis, such as those conducted by the Association of German Transport Companies, becomes essential.
