2021 war record year for industry
business
2021 was the best calculated for the industry in the last 20 years. And this despite or precisely because of the coronavirus pandemic. Salzburg is among the best in Germany in terms of both economic data and employment figures.
Even in uncertain pandemic times, things are going well for the industry. Never before in history have 90 percent of companies rated their current order and business situation as “very good” in the business survey conducted by the Federation of Industry.
industry is recovering
The labor market is slowly recovering – the record sales of Salzburg’s industrial companies also match this. 2021 was the best book of the last 20 years. And this despite or precisely because of the corona pandemic. Salzburg is among the best in Germany in terms of both economic data and employment figures. The Federation of Industry is certain that this upward trend will continue in 2022.
Order books are also full for 2022
The wheel loader and construction equipment manufacturer Liebherr in Bischofshofen (Pongau) can also look back on an absolute sales record year. “These 802 million that we reached in 2021 are 17 percent above the previous year’s level. And: 13 percent above the previous record year 2019 – even before Covid times,” said Liebherr Managing Director Manfred Santner. The order books at Liebherr have never been as full as they are at the moment, which also gives hope for 2022.
Commodity prices dampen earnings
Nevertheless, the well-known challenges remain: labor shortages, delivery bottlenecks and massively increased raw material prices. “Electricity has risen by almost 300 percent to the lowest value in 2019, aluminum plus 80 percent, steel the same – many plastics plus 50 percent,” explained Peter Unterkofler, President of the Salzburg Industry Association. All of this will dampen earnings this year, that’s what the industry is assuming.
Apprentice offensive and better training
An apprenticeship offensive and better training opportunities in the IT industry are urgently needed to counteract the shortage of workers, they say.
Despite these brakes, the industrial engines are purring at a level that other sectors can currently only dream of. Trade and tourism remain problem children – especially city tourism.