The concerns of German specialists and managers in medium-sized companies (up to 500 million euros in annual sales) have changed over the past seven months. This is the conclusion reached by the management consultancy Kloepfel Consulting in a recent cross-industry online survey of 186 specialists and managers. The previous survey took place in September 2022 with 104 participants. Participants were asked which topic they were very concerned about, moderately concerned about, and not concerned about.
Biggest concern: geopolitical risks
The previously highest-ranked concern about rising costs (47 percent) was displaced from first to fourth place by concern about geopolitical risks (67 percent). While it was still unclear in September whether power outages could occur in the winter, the supply of electricity remained secure. However, more than half of respondents (56 percent) are concerned about high electricity prices. In the previous survey, the figure was 71 percent.
Supply chains and raw material shortages
Disrupted supply chains are still a concern for many respondents (51 percent), but they are down six percentage points from September 2022. Shortages of raw materials are cited by 34 percent of participants (36 percent in 2022). And a lack of skilled workers is still a concern (41 percent).
Less concern about a drop in demand
Fortunately, concerns about declines in demand have become much less pronounced. Only eight percent of respondents said they had major worries (previously it was 29 percent). Moderate worries about weakening demand are currently held by 35 percent - previously it was 50 percent. The survey was supplemented by a question on dependence on China. 62 percent of managers said this did not concern them. Of the remaining respondents who purchase Chinese inputs, 16 percent say they have been able to become fully independent. 47 percent have been able to do so partially and 37 percent barely. The survey was conducted from March 02 to March 15, 2023.
