The Skilled Trades and Craft Sector in Germany
The skilled trades ("Handwerk") comprise a wide-ranging field of economic activities in Germany. The enterprises of the skilled trades sector provide goods and services for both private households and enterprises in all sectors. They have qualifications which enable them to respond to individual demand with a multifarious supply.
The skilled trades in Germany are thus considered to be an independent economic sector separate from industry and commerce. They form an important social and economic group within the group of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Some statistics on the skilled craft sector (2002):
Enterprises 741,000
Employees million 5,36
Apprentices 528,000
Annual turnover 480 billion Euro
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