Approximately 5.16 million employees are employed in over one million craft enterprises in Germany. The skilled crafts sector thus represents an economic force in its own right.The Skilled Crafts Sector in Germany
What counts for crafts?
The skilled crafts sector includes more than 130 occupations in the fields of construction and development, in the metal and electrical sector, wood and plastics, textiles, foodstuffs, healthcare and creative handicrafts. In Germany, membership of a particular skilled crafts sector is regulated on a statutory level and does not depend on the size of the company or company turnover. The Trade and Crafts Code (HwO) defines which occupations constitute skilled crafts.
- Annex A: All occupations for which a master craftsman diploma is a prerequisite for self-employment
- Annex B1: All craft occupations for which a master craftsman qualification can be completed on a voluntary basis
- Annex B2: Craft-like trades
Businesses that can be allocated to these occupations must be members of one of the 53 Chambers of Skilled Crafts in Germany.
Chambers of skilled crafts in Germany
The Chambers offer a wide scope of services, ranging from providing technical advice, business consultancy services and legal advice as well as extensive offers in vocational training and further education. They administer the Register of Crafts Businesses and are responsible for the examinations system.
When is it necessary to register with the Chamber of Crafts?
If you would like to provide services in Germany on a temporary basis
If you would you like to become self-employmed in a regulated profession
If you would like to become self-employmed in a non-regulated profession