Unreliable craftsmen - is this common in the industry nowadays?

I know many craftsmen and father was one too. Problem, an influx of orders meets a shortage of skilled workers and hardly any apprentices left. Everyone is looking. Every journeyman in craftsmanship could immediately move elsewhere. They are often just too sluggish. And too set in their ways. Poaching is common practice. Last May hired three landscape gardeners, now they are gone... the other one offered a switching bonus... happened to an acquaintance. This will all get worse. Unless the master craftsman obligation is abolished. Then many small businesses would emerge that could offer, officially and without tricks, for example painting work, paving or similar. That would relieve the standard business. The master would then also get masterful work. For a master painter, for example, rolling a white wall is pearls before swine. That is not his expertise. The colorful design of a room with accents or wash effects, yes, that rather. Painting a wooden staircase as well. Only, that also takes time. And he currently doesn’t have that. So often actually nice orders fall by the wayside, because developer xy wants 600 sqm of interior walls white, and pays well with 15 per sqm. Karsten

I agree with you - I clearly do negative advertising for these craftsmen wherever possible. In our construction area, everyone is first assessed to see how different craftsmen behave and where it is better not to even inquire. Also, in the village and the surrounding towns among friends, relatives, and acquaintances, these black sheep are pointed out very precisely to me.

On the other hand, I also praise the craftsmen who did a great job on our construction site and could always be relied upon! (Thank God there were a few of those)

Wasn't there something in discussion that the master craftsman certificates are now financially supported by the federal government, state, or similar?

This will get even worse in the future because it is harder to get young people to learn a skilled trade. Working conditions are bad, rough manners on the construction site, comparatively low pay, the reputation of skilled trades or the tradespeople themselves is rather poor. Apprentices would rather learn an office/IT job or something medical. But even worse is the increasingly strong tendency towards the Abi/university degree.

In our medium-sized company, it is also becoming increasingly difficult to get good locksmiths. The problem here is also the fact that wages in neighboring Luxembourg are much higher for the same work. Even temporary workers are hardly to be found anymore and when one does come, their work quality is poor.

We are also renovating our old house and I already regret not wanting to spend money on an architect. With him, the tradespeople don't come any faster, but he has to struggle with them and chase after them.

But it’s true: even for an electrical renovation worth €15,000, electrical companies don’t flock to your door and you almost have to beg them to take the job.

The best is to do everything yourself! For those who can do it in terms of time and physically, of course...