The Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer (VDMA, or German Engineering Federation) is complaining about the increasing problems the sector is having when looking for qualified young talent. In a current interview Federation President Manfred Wittenstein put the number of unfilled engineering vacancies at “4,000 with a rising trend”. As a counter measure Wittenstein is demanding the further development of the educational system in order to reduce the number of students who do not complete their studies. “About 50 per cent of students studying engineering subjects do not complete their courses. That’s dramatic.” Furthermore, the emigration of skilled workers had to be stopped.