Technologies to combat the shortage of skilled workers

Digital technologies make skilled occupations more efficient or automate them. They optimise work processes and make them more attractive – a decisive factor in attracting and developing qualified specialists. The innovative solutions of the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) tie in with this:

• Digital 3D planning tools: Reduce planning times by up to 90 per cent and facilitate decision-making.
• Authoring tools for digital twins: Enable specialists without programming knowledge to create interactive training scenarios, thus promoting in-company training and continuing education.
• Visual control centres for data-based decisions: Support specialists in production, care and IT security.

Our analysis shows the great potential for workplaces in Germany that can still benefit from these technologies. It is the first part of our series of analyses together with Fraunhofer IGD.

Combatting the shortage of skilled workers: Fraunhofer IGD and Prognos combine their expertise

The growing shortage of skilled workers is increasingly causing companies distress. Technical professions in development, planning and quality assurance are affected, as are non-technical professions, such as nursing, where the shortage of young talent is having serious consequences. Together, Fraunhofer IGD and Prognos are demonstrating how digital technologies can alleviate these bottlenecks – with applications that accelerate processes, relieve the burden on skilled workers and promote qualifications.

Example 1: The expansion of the fibre-optic network in Germany is lagging behind. Long planning times and approval procedures are slowing down progress. Fraunhofer IGD developed a planning tool for Deutsche Telekom that reduces the duration of the planning process by up to 75 percent.

Example 2: In education and training, it is recommended that learning content be taught virtually using digital twins. The problem: trainers need extensive programming skills to create digital twins. Fraunhofer IGD has developed a tool that allows trainers to design, implement and immediately use virtual training scenarios without programming skills.

Example 3: To make informed decisions, relevant rules, regulations and up-to-date data are crucial. However, collecting and processing this information takes time. Fraunhofer IGD has therefore developed innovative visual control centres that combine, filter and clearly display important data from various sources. These customised dashboards allow specialists to quickly access the information they need – for example, nursing staff who want to quickly assess a patient's status.

To the analysis paper: Specialists (Website, German)

To the Fraunhofer IGD press release (german)

Context of the collaboration

Fraunhofer IGD develops customised solutions in the fields of 3D computer graphics, computer vision, artificial intelligence and visualisation. Automation and digital workflows optimise processes and leverage new potential. Prognos complements this technological expertise with economic and social analyses. Together, we consider how innovations affect not only technology, but also the economy and society. After all, technological development does not take place in a laboratory, but in a real world of living and working.

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Last update: 18.03.2025