There is still a shortage of 3000 apprentices in the construction industry

Just a few years ago, it was the other way around: too many school leavers were applying for too few apprenticeships. But the trend has now reversed, and it is not changing in 2016, especially in the construction industry. The most recently published figures from SERI even signal an increase in unfilled apprenticeships compared to 2015. According to berufsberatung.ch, the cantons with the most open apprenticeships in construction are St. Gallen (470), Zurich (402), Bern (304). SERI does not record vacant apprenticeships by sector and canton. The apprenticeship situation in the construction industry has therefore worsened overall. This has implications for the entire economy. After all, construction not only contributes around 6% to GDP - ahead of banks; it also has a key position in the economy and in implementing the federal government's energy strategy. After all, buildings have an energy-saving potential of up to 50%. However, so far only 1% of the buildings in need of renovation are renovated each year.

Attractive job profiles with great career opportunities

There are around 50 professions in construction, often paying top wages. Rapid careers are not uncommon. Anyone who starts an apprenticeship in construction today will be managing construction sites and holding management positions in construction companies in five years at the latest. Switzerland's dual vocational training system also makes it easier to follow an academic path. On June 29, 2016, 6 apprentices from 6 construction sectors demonstrated how demanding and exciting jobs in construction are at a media talk held by bausinn.ch. All industries and also the media have been talking about apprentices for years. At today's bausinn.ch media talk at the National Museum, the apprentices talked eye to eye with the journalists; for the first time ever, the apprentices were the main people at a media event. The six young men are scaffolders, painters, bricklayers, welders, metal workers and poly builders. Not only are they all good at planning, grappling and implementing plans at a young age. Above all, they also learn teamwork and how to deal with deadline pressure and changing processes. This means they are well equipped for a career at any time.

• Scaffolder Andrea Baltensperger from Winterthur, 3rd year apprentice: "Scaffolding ensures work safety in construction. Everyone is familiar with scaffolds on buildings. They are also important for bridges, such as the renovation of the Quai Bridge in Zurich. For the construction of bridge scaffolds, someone has to have a lot of experience in math. Because here the statics have to be calculated." After his apprenticeship, he plans to train as a group leader and later become a site manager - who draws plans and inspects construction sites.
• Bricklayer Robby Hinnen from Seuzach (ZH): Robby Hinnen proves how quickly and far talented young people can go in construction. He completed his three-year apprenticeship as a bricklayer in 2015. "I now know a lot about materials like concrete and stone. I know the construction site procedures and have learned to work in a team and also under stress. I find it particularly exciting that you can see what you have done. The job is very varied. My favorite building is my boss's apartment block." At the media briefing, he explained the many steps involved in building a supposedly simple retaining wall over several days.
• Metalworker Alex Trüb from Lausen (BL): Whether he builds aluminum doors, steel doors or conservatories in the workshop and later installs them on the construction site - he enjoys the quick sense of achievement: "I also think it's nice to see what you've accomplished. If the customer is happy, then you like it twice as much yourself." He recommends the four-year apprenticeship to anyone who appreciates individual work and can work out solutions very quickly.
• Welder Sven Schlüchter from Bowil (BE), 1st year of apprenticeship: 16-year-old Sven Schlüchter is completing an apprenticeship as a plant and apparatus engineer at Ferdinand Steck Maschinenfabrik AG in Bowil (BE). At the media conference, Schlüchter represented a profession that does not exist, but for which professional championships are held: The welder. The importance of welding in construction is increasing. With the new European standards, which have also applied to construction in Switzerland since 2015, certain jobs require certified further training in welding. For example, with the EN 1090 standard, metal construction companies can only apply for certain projects if they employ a certified welder.
• Polybauer, Jan-Eric Allenbach from Säriswil (BE): Before he started an apprenticeship as a polybuilder specializing in roofing, he attended high school for a year. He had to realize that this was not necessarily his world. He comes from a family business that also deals with roofing and photovoltaics and decided on this profession after several trial apprenticeships. He is not worried about his future either: "Every house needs a roof; this job will therefore never die out. With regard to the future, I see working on the energy transition as a special opportunity."
• Painter Stella Francescato from Thalwil, 1st year apprenticeship: "For only being in my first year of apprenticeship, I have already been able to learn a lot. Even in school, I've been able to acquire knowledge about a wide variety of materials." For her, the painting profession is the most beautiful of all construction professions. She is particularly interested in the artistic aspect as well as the fine work, such as decorative painting. In doing so, she can give free rein to her creativity. She has also learned to prove herself as a woman on the construction site.

After completing their apprenticeships, all of these six apprentices are aiming for further training so that they can either take on management functions later on or even take over their parents' business. Overall, they are not worried about the future of their industry either, because construction will always take place, and even despite digitalization, there will be a need for well-trained craftsmen.

For more appreciation of the construction industry

The bausinn.ch community of interest is committed to greater appreciation for the Swiss construction industry and to the professional pride of construction professionals. The supporting organizations of bausinn.ch are currently AM Suisse, Gebäudehülle Schweiz, the Swiss Association of Master Builders (SBV), the Swiss Scaffolding Contractors Association (SGUV), the Swiss Painters' and Plasterers' Contractors Association (SMGV) and the Welding Technology Association (SVS). Ueli Büchi, Head of Vocational Training Policy of the Swiss Association of Master Builders (SBC), Siegfried Dauner, Head of Vocational Training Metaltec of AM Suisse, Mario Freda, Central President of the Swiss Painters' and Plasterers' Contractors' Association (SMGV), Karin Gamma, Head of MarKom & Events Building Envelope Switzerland, Dr. Marc Harzenmoser, Director of the Swiss Welding Association (SVS), Dr. Josef Wiederkehr, President of the Swiss Scaffolding Contractors' Association (SGUV). The training supervisors of the six apprentices also gave their views and emphasized the versatility of training in the construction industry by referring to their own professional careers.

Information: www.bausinn.ch