A Greens federal chairwoman who had never arrived in working life. An Andrea Nahles, who above all has glee for her old political colleagues. A presenter who struggles with the names of her guests. Nobody has to talk about a shortage of skilled workers anymore.

Has the shortage of skilled workers now also reached the talk shows? “Maybrit Illner” makes exactly the impression that evening. Let’s take Ricarda Lang. She successfully aborted her studies and did not manage to get any training after graduating from high school. The Greens Federal Chair is obviously top qualified to talk about the job market. What does she have to contribute? She talks about her graduation twice. “I graduated from school ten years ago,” she affirms. Education? Profession? Work experience outside of politics? You obviously don’t have to. It is often easiest to talk about things of which one has little experience. In one thing, however, the Greens are absolutely clear: “I believe that prosperity is very important.”

“My name is Ricarda Lang” is her first sentence that evening. The shortage of skilled workers may also affect the moderator chair. Once again, Maybrit Illner has managed to address a guest with the wrong name. “Rebecca Lang”, she introduced the Greens to the group. Later she talks about “retirement at 60 – uh: 70.” The viewer might rub their eyes and question the opening phrase of the presenter. “You are,” Illner said, “on Second German Television, and that’s a good thing.” Is it good to be on Second German Television that evening? Not over long distances. Andrea Nahles becomes a total failure in the talk show. The former SPD chairwoman and current chairwoman of the Federal Employment Agency brings with her glee for her ex-colleagues. She confirms that “it doesn’t match” in the job market at the moment. And at some point he adds with a smile: “My colleagues from politics will take this with them and shape it.”

The topic sounds exciting: “Whoever is urgently needed, who will secure the economy and prosperity?” A shortage of workers has long been a problem that has become noticeable in everyday life – and by no means only in care. Restaurants are doubling the number of their rest days simply because they lack staff. Headhunters enjoy golden times when companies cannot fill their positions themselves. The waiting time for craftsmen is multiplied. This is annoying for those who want to have something repaired. That’s not bad at all for the trained roofer and new president of the Central Association of German Crafts, Jörg Dittrich. “Waiting times will increase,” he confirms, adding: “Of course, it will be more expensive if there are fewer skilled workers.”

In this environment, Carsten Linnemann can distinguish himself perfectly. The deputy CDU chairman believes that the gap cannot be closed: “It’s time for politicians to be honest.” The state, however, promotes a fully comprehensive mentality. “Then it was with Germany. We have to be careful that prosperity doesn’t fill us up – someone has to earn the pension!” And then Linnemann proposes his “new active pension”. It must be tax-free for everyone who works voluntarily for a longer period of time. Reason: “We have extraordinary times, we need extraordinary instruments.” Linnemann then offers the moderator in a friendly manner: “You can also call that the new Illner pension!” As I said: We are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. You quickly become the namesake.