Late-Start Careers in German Transport: 50% of Bus and Train Drivers Are Career Changers
Over half of transport operators in Germany, namely bus and train drivers, hold multiple jobs.
Social media share: 🔄 Reddit 💬 Twitter 💌 Email 📧 📖 Print 📝 Copy Link 🔗 About
This intriguing revelation surfaced when it was disclosed that over half of the bus and train drivers in Germany are career changers! According to a recent survey, an astounding 44% had completed a different apprenticeship before switching careers, while an additional 10.1% became drivers without any prior vocational training. Their motives? A deep-seated passion for driving and the irresistible allure of a secure job.
In the realm of German public transportation, a whopping 20,000 bus driver positions are currently vacant, with an additional 3,000 train driver shortages. Harald Kraus, chairman of the VDV personnel committee, states, "We are grappling with significant recruitment hurdles, particularly among driving staff, due to demographic reasons."
In an effort to make their jobs more enticing, employees cite improved working conditions and a more respectful demeanor from passengers as crucial factors. However, three out of ten respondents find it challenging to reconcile their work schedules with their personal lives. The increasing stress levels associated with the chaotic traffic environment often serve as an additional burden.
The social status of their profession rankles 51% of respondents, reporting a poor or very poor standing. Factors contributing to this perception include unfavorable working hours and low compensation.
Source: ntv.de, AFP
As the European transport sector grapples with its graying workforce and mounting personnel shortages, several factors contribute to these issues:
The Causes of Career Changes and Personnel Shortage
- Aging Workforce: The average age of train drivers is on the rise, prompting higher retirement rates and increasing vacancies. This trend isn't unique to Germany but is prevalent across Europe, from the UK to Switzerland.
- Training and Entry Requirements: Historically, train driving has stringent entry criteria and a lengthy training program. However, progressive European nations, like Germany, offer vocational training through dual systems encompassing both practical and theoretical learning.
- Working Conditions and Shifts: The nature of the occupation demands irregular shifts, night work, and weekend duties, often leading to exhaustion and employment changes. Similar challenges are faced by engine drivers in Switzerland who tackle varied shift patterns.
- Attracting Young Talent: Missing out on young talent is common due to the typical age requirement of 20 years for train drivers. However, innovations are in progress, with some countries exploring the option of lowering the age requirement to recruit younger candidates.
In response to these challenges, proposed solutions include:
- Lowering the Age Requirement: Nations like Germany and the UK are contemplating or have already lowered the minimum age for train drivers to 18 to attract younger candidates.
- Vocational Training and Apprenticeships: Strengthening vocational training programs, such as Germany's dual system, can foster early career development and employee retention. Similarly, the UK has introduced apprenticeships for aspiring train drivers.
- Improving Working Conditions: Offering flexible work arrangements and better working conditions can help retain staff and attract newcomers. For example, SBB in Switzerland presents flexible part-time models for engine drivers.
- Innovative Recruitment Strategies: To attract and keep talent, companies are pursuing innovative approaches, such as emphasizing the career's potentially lucrative growth prospects and the satisfaction of working within a critical infrastructure role.
- The statistical data indicates that a significant number of bus and train drivers in Germany, including 44% who previously underwent a different apprenticeship, are career changers, showcasing a strong interest in transportation careers for reasons such as job security and passion for driving.
- As the transportation industry struggles with personnel shortages, one of the contributing factors is the aging workforce, leading to increased retirement rates and vacancies, not just in Germany, but across European countries like the UK and Switzerland.
- To combat these issues, possible solutions include lowering the minimum age for train drivers to 18 in countries such as Germany and the UK, improving working conditions like offering flexible work arrangements, and strengthening vocational training programs, such as Germany's dual system, to foster early career development and employee retention.
- The attractiveness of transportation careers is also tied to health and wellness factors, such as workplace wellness and providing better working conditions to make the job more enticing, especially considering the challenges faced by drivers, including irregular shifts, night work, and stressful traffic environments that negatively impact personal life and health.
