The shortage of skilled workers is one of the biggest challenges facing Baden-Württemberg. At the same time, numerous practical examples in the state show that artificial intelligence can already provide noticeable relief, empower workers, and secure skilled personnel. With a new state project, we are highlighting precisely these solutions—across industries, in a practical manner, and with a view to real impact. We show why this is important, what is planned, and what added value it offers for companies, municipalities, and politics.
Vacancies remain unfilled, knowledge is lost, and workloads increase: in Baden-Württemberg, companies, municipalities, and public institutions are already feeling the pressure that demographic developments are putting on entire industries. The shortage of skilled workers has long been a real challenge in the state. At the same time, artificial intelligence provides a tool that can be used to address this issue—not as a replacement for humans, but as targeted support.
This is precisely where we, as the AI Alliance Baden-Württemberg, are starting with a new project that we are launching together with the Baden-Württemberg Skilled Workers Alliance and the CyberForum . The aim is to use video insights to highlight what has often only been known in isolated cases: AI is already making a concrete contribution to securing skilled workers – across industries, job profiles, and organizational forms.
From individual examples to systematic impact
As convincing as many practical examples are, they have so far lacked a platform. Numerous organizations in the country are successfully using AI, but their experiences often remain isolated. What is missing is a systematic view of mechanisms of action, conditions for success, and transferability.
This is where the new project comes in. Together with our partners, we are identifying ten to twelve specific use cases from Baden-Württemberg in which AI is already helping to secure skilled workers. These examples will be filmed and classified didactically—as honest insights into real processes, challenges, and learning experiences.
Ina Biesenbach, an experienced video producer and creative strategist from Stuttgart, will be joining the team in February to handle video production. Her focus is on communicating complex content in a way that is understandable, authentic, and effective—close to people and their everyday working lives.
The project deliberately does not focus on a single industry. Instead, we cover the entire spectrum of the labor market in Baden-Württemberg. After all, the shortage of skilled workers is not a sector-specific problem—and AI is not an industry-specific solution.
"We are not interested in celebrating beacons. We are interested in what works under what conditions—and why. This knowledge helps companies, local authorities, and political decision-makers to make informed decisions," says Dr. Jan Zipp, who is responsible for AI strategy and innovation at the AI Alliance. He was also instrumental in the successful tender for the project.
AI along the entire skilled labor chain
The debate surrounding AI and work is often characterized by extremes. AI is either perceived as a promise of salvation or as a threat. The reality in Baden-Württemberg is much more nuanced—and much more exciting.
AI solutions are now used throughout the entire skilled labor chain: from recruitment and personnel development to day-to-day work. They support training and knowledge management, relieve the burden of routine tasks, improve resource planning, facilitate the integration of new employees or workers with disabilities, and increase the overall attractiveness of skilled jobs.
Measurable effects are already evident today in industry and skilled trades, as well as in care, administration, and consulting: time savings, higher quality, lower error rates—and, above all, more space for what makes human work meaningful.
"When we talk about securing skilled workers, we mustn't just talk about brains, but also about skills, time, and impact," says Dr. Jan Zipp, adding: "AI can be a real lever here—provided it is used responsibly and in line with needs."
Learning from practice for practice
The film case studies are more than just best practices. Their systematic collection and evaluation provides a reliable overview of where and how AI contributes to securing skilled workers in Baden-Württemberg and what effects are actually achieved. At the same time, it reveals the organizational, technical, and cultural prerequisites that are crucial for AI solutions to be effective.
This creates a knowledge base that extends far beyond individual organizations. Companies receive guidance for their own AI projects, local authorities can better evaluate application scenarios, and political actors gain a sound basis for labor market policy decisions.
"Especially in the debate about the future of work, we need more evidence and less gut feeling," says Dr. Jan Zipp. "This project shows how AI strengthens human work—not theoretically, but in concrete terms."
AI not for the sake of AI
The project exemplifies our self-image as the AI Alliance Baden-Württemberg: We do not think about AI for AI's sake, but as a response to real challenges. As a guide in a complex market. And as a connecting element between business, science, administration, and politics.
Securing skilled workers is not an isolated goal, but part of a larger task: making Baden-Württemberg a sustainable location for business and living. With solutions that are quality-assured, ethically sound, and practical.
The coming months will reveal which stories will be told—and what impact they will have. One thing is already clear: the future of work will not be decided solely by the labor market, but rather where technology, organization, and people interact in a meaningful way.