Trend reversal in the mood in the laboratory sector

According to the results of the current VUP survey, the current order situation is rated at +0.2 and the forecast for the coming six months at +0.5 (on a scale of -2 to +2), which is better than in the Autumn Economic Barometer 2022. The consistently positive economic outlook is driven by a persistent shortage of skilled workers, which poses major challenges for the laboratory sector.

Around half of the companies surveyed rated the current order situation as average and a third as good to very good. Expectations for the next six months are also positive for the majority (56 per cent of respondents). Only 13 per cent see a deterioration in the order situation ahead. An average increase in turnover of 2.7 per cent is expected for the next six months. Whereas a year ago a decline in sales of 1.1 percent was expected and last autumn even 3.7 percent, a trend reversal is now emerging and the laboratory sector is looking positively to the future in all market sectors.

Für the individual market segments, this means in detail: consumer protection & food analysis (0.2), environmental analysis (0.2), pharmaceutical testing (0.2), medical devices (0.4), laboratory medicine (0.2), physical measurements & calibration (0.7) and industrial analysis (0.1).

Increase in willingness to invest
The willingness to invest is increasing across all sectors surveyed. While the willingness to invest in real estate and advertising only recorded a small increase of 0.1 (on a scale of -2 to +2), the areas of analysis and plant technology (0.3) and IT and digitalisation (0.6) increased more strongly. The IT and digitalisation sector thus almost reached the previous year's level of 0.7.

Skilled labour shortage
The supply of skilled labour remains at a consistently poor level of -0.8 (on a scale of -2 to +2), while the demand for personnel is increasing. At 0.5, planning for the expansion of jobs is higher than last autumn (0.1). A closer look at the personnel situation shows that well-trained laboratory specialists are currently in demand.

This mismatch between supply and demand on the labour market will continue to pose major challenges for the laboratory sector in the future. Two thirds of the laboratories surveyed see the developments as worrying and around ten per cent even see them as a threat to their existence.

Various strategies for recruiting staff
In order to attract new staff under the current conditions, many companies stated that, in addition to above-average pay and individual working time models, they wanted to score points with applicants with special benefits such as travel allowances, vouchers and further training opportunities. Many also hope to be able to access additional labour through increased recruiting via social media or abroad. In order to secure the existing pool of personnel, information such as respectful interaction, maintaining a good working atmosphere, involving employees in the organisation of internal processes, intensive induction training and opportunities for further training was provided.

VUP Annual Conference 2023 takes up the topic of skilled labour
The upcoming VUP Annual Conference in Berlin will focus on the topic of "Securing skilled and managerial staff". At the first day of the German testing and laboratory industry, which the VUP is organising together with the VMPA (Association of Materials Testing Institutes), presentations and a panel discussion will take a look into the future of the challenges facing the labour market. In addition, perspectives and solutions for securing skilled labour will be presented.

Article from "LABO" from 25 May 2023