Job fair in Vechta: New opportunities to combat the shortage of skilled workers!

Job fair in Vechta: New opportunities to combat the shortage of skilled workers!

The 14th Oldenburger Münsterland job fair took place on September 19th and 20th, 2025 at the Stoppelmarkt site in Vechta. Over 220 exhibitors came together to address the urgent shortage of skilled workers. The event was opened by District Administrator Tobias Gerdesmeyer and Mayor Kristian Kater gave a welcoming speech. The patron of the fair was Dr. Andreas Philippi, Lower Saxony's Minister for Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Equality, who underlined the importance of the trade fair for the region.

The job fair serves as a platform for students and schoolchildren who want to get an overview of the job market and make contacts with potential employers. Many companies from industry, trade, retail, the service sector and more presented themselves to offer training positions and jobs in the region. Target groups included specialists and managers, employees aged 50+, people returning to work, students of all disciplines, school leavers and those interested in further training opportunities.

Presentations and information on site

The University of Vechta was represented with a joint stand that included both the Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB) and the Human Resources Department. The ZSB provided information about the current range of courses and the requirements for studying at the university. Those interested could also find out details about apprenticeships such as “office management clerks”, “administrative assistants” and “informatics specialists in system integration”.

The application deadline for the “Office Management Clerk” apprenticeship at the University of Vechta ends on November 30, 2025, while applications are still possible for the course offered in September 2025. The trade fair had a clear goal: to counteract the shortage of skilled workers, which is being exacerbated by demographic change and other factors.

Shortage of skilled workers and market analysis

The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS) analyzed the challenges on the labor market as part of its skilled worker monitoring. This analysis paints a picture of the need for skilled workers and the shortages that could emerge in the coming years. Over the next five years, approximately 618,000 people are expected to enter the labor market without a degree, while only 396,000 support positions will be available. This highlights the challenges that companies face, especially in structurally weak regions.

The monitoring also examines how economic changes, digitalization and climate change influence the demands placed on employees. These factors lead to a significant change in the requirement profiles, forcing companies to realign themselves and find suitable skilled workers.

The job fair not only offers an opportunity for networking, but is also an answer to the challenges of the future job market. Demographic change, increasing dropout rates from educational measures and shortages of skilled workers show that the need for such platforms remains high. The next trade fair is planned for September 2026 in Vechta and promises to be the 15th edition with further offers and discussions.

In summary, it can be said that the 14th Oldenburger Münsterland job fair makes an important contribution to securing skilled workers and represents a valuable opportunity for both job seekers and companies to reorient themselves and network. This is a further step towards mastering the future challenges of the labor market.