The goal of this study was to analyse the consequences of demographic change on road maintenance services. To achieve this, an age structure analysis, a task description and an employee survey were conducted between July 2013 and February 2014. Considering the results of the age structure analysis it becomes apparent that the age distribution of the workforce must be regarded as unfavourable in most federal states. The majority of employees are already over the age of forty, meaning that barring a change in the current age structure of the workforce, in ten years' time activities of the road maintenance services will have to be undertaken predominately by employees older than fifty. A look at the task description shows that the long years of often straining working conditions result in physical and psychological restrictions of employees. They are thus unable to cope with the challenging activities of road maintenance services in the long run. In the survey employees expressed sufficient satisfaction with their occupation though coupled with a critical view on their later career years. Generally speaking employees liked their job and demonstrated a desire to exercise it until well into their later years. To be able to do this they expressed a need for better technical equipment as well as a wish for more personal recognition. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of vital action concerning areas such as health promotion, work organisation as well as human resources marketing in road maintenance services. An expert survey conducted between July 2014 and October 2014 highlights promising approaches already implemented by some federal states regarding the designated fields of action. These approaches need to be further developed, strengthened and better coordinated in the future. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting