Skills Shortage: Business Turns to Modular Qualifications as a Key Tool

Joint efforts by businesses, trade unions, and policymakers aim to accelerate and solidify upskilling initiatives – Network event in Berlin

In light of growing skill shortages, businesses are increasingly turning to modular qualifications (MQ) as a pragmatic solution: At the event "Skills Development through Upskilling: Modular Qualifications as a Pathway" on 18 June in Berlin, leading representatives from the business community, politics, the Federal Employment Agency, and social partners highlighted the success of modular qualifications and a nationwide framework as important steps toward securing skilled labour.

Businesses Need Qualified Professionals

The pressure to act is high: Many companies are already struggling to find sufficiently qualified staff, while 2.2 million young adults aged between 25 and 34 in Germany have no formal qualifications. Modular qualifications are one way to bridge this gap, as they offer step-by-step, practical, and faster qualification pathways. For businesses, modular qualifications bring dual benefits. They enable targeted further qualification for employees while also unlocking new potentials for skilled workers.

Political Support for a Business-Oriented Tool

A pivotal statement was made by Dr Petra Bahr, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). In her address, she underlined the importance of upskilling for the competitiveness and transformation of the economy.

Practical Evidence: MQ Works Across All Sectors

The success of modular qualifications is also evident in practice. At the event, representatives from small, medium, and large companies shared their positive experiences, as did participants who have used modular qualifications to achieve recognised professional qualifications.

Unified Approach by Business and Social Partners

The network event – organised by four MQ projects funded by the BMBFSFJ and hosted by DIHK Service GmbH, the educational institutes of business associations, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, and the Central Office for Continuing Education in the Skilled Trades – provided an outlook that businesses and social partners plan to collaborate more closely in systematically expanding upskilling through modular qualifications.

"Modular qualifications align economic needs with individual opportunities. The fact that businesses, social partners, and policymakers are working together here sends a strong signal. Together, we can attract more people into qualified employment," said Nico Schönefeldt, Head of Training at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK).

Conclusion: Faster and More Reliable Implementation Required

At the same time, it became clear that unified standards are crucial for ensuring the tool’s reliable utilisation by businesses nationwide. Last year, key stakeholders jointly supported modular qualifications and agreed on a nationwide framework for their implementation. These steps have established important prerequisites for rolling out upskilling initiatives aimed at recognised qualifications swiftly and successfully. For many companies, the focus now is on quick implementation.

The message from Berlin is clear: To secure skilled labour, qualification strategies must be reimagined – and modular qualifications must be fully leveraged.