Germany's skilled trades sector is facing a decline in turnover and the loss of up to 80,000 jobs, the country's skilled crafts association (ZDH), which represents about 5.7 million workers, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a gathering of the 53 German chambers of skilled crafts in Erfurt, ZDH General Secretary Holger Schwannecke predicted that the sector would post a nominal rise in turnover of just 1%, implying a fall in real terms, with consumer inflation currently running at 2.2%.
While those parts of the sector dependent on consumers were profiting from a general rise in incomes, construction workers were under pressure and there were increasing problems in industry, he said.
Schwannecke called for bureaucracy to be cut back, pointing to a Cologne University study showing that a quarter of those completing their training were wary of taking the step to self-employment for this reason.
"They're nervous of the forms," he said, pointing to the documentation, certificates and other bureaucratic requirements.
Thomas Malcherek, head of the Erfurt chamber, said: "Unfortunately, we have a culture of mistrust in Germany." Self-employment should be appreciated more, he said.
According to the ZDH, around 20,000 master craftsman examinations complete their training every year. It called for vocational training to have the same status as an academic degree.