Hairdressing salon in Waiblingen closes: Alarming shortage of skilled workers!

Hairdressing salon in Waiblingen closes: Alarming shortage of skilled workers!

In Waiblingen, the hair salon “J.7 hair lounge” in the Weingärtner Vorstadt has closed its doors. This decision was made at the end of May and is a direct response to the ongoing shortage of skilled workers in the industry. The operating company, J.7 group GmbH, refers its customers to a salon of the same name on Esslinger Straße in Stuttgart. This makes it clear that the shortage of skilled workers also poses serious challenges for local companies, which not only affect the accessibility of services, but can also threaten the economic stability of companies. ZVW reports that the shortage of qualified hairdressers and hairstylists has increased, especially after the pandemic.

The situation is not unique to Waiblingen. Loud Jobberie Hairdressing salons all over Germany are desperately looking for staff. The need for hairdressers is particularly high in many western federal states, while the eastern federal states are comparatively less affected. This shows that the conditions of the labor markets vary regionally and that the challenges vary depending on the location.

Increased demand and decreasing availability

The problems in the industry are diverse. In 2022, hairdressers and make-up artists were even officially added to the skilled worker shortage list in several federal states. This is notable as there were fewer than 1,000 job vacancies available on average in the same year, although this, combined with 4,800 people looking for work, shows a large discrepancy to current demand. In 2023, the number of hairdressers looking for work fell to 2.74 per vacancy. These statistics underscore the seriousness of the situation and highlight the need for change within the industry.

In addition, attention is drawn to the high level of fluctuation within the hairdressing profession. Many companies struggle with the same problems: low pay, a high service component and the pressure of competition, especially from cheap salons. This leads to many hairdressers dissatisfied with their work or leaving the profession entirely. The often not family-friendly working hours also contribute to emigration, which makes it more difficult to find successors for existing salons.

Career prospects and future prospects

The experts agree: In order to meet the challenges of the shortage of skilled workers, the profession must be advertised more intensively, especially in schools. A better and clearer picture of career opportunities could encourage more young people to take up hairdressing training. The profession is currently traditionally dominated by women, with 3,364 female and 554 male apprentices in the hairdressing industry in 2021. Despite these figures, the number of applicants is stagnating and there has been little improvement in working conditions.

Overall, the discussion surrounding the shortage of skilled workers in the service sector and skilled trades remains complex and requires innovative approaches and collaboration between companies, educational institutions and political decision-makers. The closure of the salon in Waiblingen is a clear warning signal that should not be ignored as it affects the future of the entire industry.