Germany’s skilled trades sector is reporting a lack of discernible improvement in economic sentiment despite pre-summer pledges from Chancellor Friedrich Merz to stimulate a positive shift, according to the President of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Jörg Dittrich.
In remarks published Monday, Dittrich stated that while data suggests a marginal increase in optimism, he would characterize the prevailing mood as “hope” rather than genuine “confidence”. He asserted that a recently implemented government stimulus package is failing to reach businesses within the trades sector.
A significant point of contention, according to Dittrich, is the delayed implementation of promised reductions to the electricity tax, which he claims is eroding trust amongst business owners. He described widespread frustration, noting a high volume of concerned calls received by the ZDH.
Addressing the potential political consequences of this dissatisfaction, Dittrich acknowledged the growing support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and suggested this trend is mirrored within the skilled trades sector, particularly in rural areas. While noting a lack of specific statistical data, he dismissed the idea that the sector is immune to broader shifts in political preference, highlighting concerns about the provision of essential public services – schools, childcare facilities and public transportation – in those regions. Dittrich stressed the need for greater attention to these concerns to address the underlying frustrations.