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It's rather mixed - some trades are shrinking because people prefer office jobs or digitalization is displacing skilled workers, but on the other hand there's a shortage of tradespeople everywhere because there aren't enough new recruits. Especially in plumbing and electrical work, demand is high, but the businesses just can't get apprentices. Overall I'd say it's more of a shortage than an oversupply.

In my neighborhood, the trade businesses are desperately searching for people - plumbers, electricians, bricklayers. My grandma had to wait three weeks recently for an appointment with a plumber, and he told me he barely gets any apprentices anymore. It's kind of paradoxical, really: there are fewer businesses in some sectors, but at the same time there's a massive shortage of skilled workers.

What's actually shrinking are the smaller, owner-operated shops - lots of businesses are closing because the owners are retiring and there's no one to take over. Some trades are also struggling because their work is less in demand thanks to other technologies, or because big corporations are taking over the market. On the other hand, there are construction sites and private renovations everywhere, and people just can't find anyone who'll come.

Young people would rather study or go into secure employment instead of doing a long apprenticeship where you have to do physical work. That's why it looks different depending on the region - maybe more businesses in bigger cities because of the demand, but skilled workers are missing everywhere. The numbers you hear are pretty mixed, depending on which sector you're looking at.

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