Exchange of words
Jena 2026 program
Where work comes up!
Times, panel discussions and lectures
10:00 a.m.
Opening & Welcome
Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Lord Mayor of the City of Jena // Peter Böttger, Organizer
10:15 a.m.
Panel discussion: Skills shortage in the region: perspectives & courses of action – with Q&A from the audience
Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Lord Mayor of the City of Jena // Wilfried Röpke, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Jena // Susanne Brückner, Head of Human Resources at Schott AG // Florian Meyer, Managing Director of GeAT – Gesellschaft für Arbeitnehmerüberlassung Thüringen mbH // Madlen Ott, Head of Human Resources at Ever Pharma GmbH
11:15 a.m.
Lecture: “The perfect match – between uncertainty, ghosting and skills shortages.”
Mandy Rubner, GeAT – Gesellschaft für Arbeitnehmerüberlassung Thüringen mbH
11:45 a.m.
Keynote: Why good HR work often remains ineffective – even though you do everything right – with Q&A from the audience
Jörg Schleburg, founder and owner of VonVorteil e.K. I Founder of ASANTIAL I Keynote speaker I Podcaster at “scharf und sinnig”
12:45 pm
Lecture: Future Skills – Which professions will disappear in the medium term due to automation and AI – which skills will we really need in the future!
Dr. Simon Mamerow, Head of Strategy at VonVorteil / Ambassador of the science location Berlin braincitiy.berlin / university lecturer / work anthropologist / futurologist
1:30 p.m.
Panel discussion: 1 million skilled workers shortage in 2030 – what’s next for healthcare, nursing and geriatric care?
The market determines demand – and one thing is clear. If there is a shortage of skilled workers in these dimensions, the remaining ones will look for well-paid jobs with good working hours and are very likely to increasingly switch to the private sector.
This means an even greater shortage of staff in public hospitals. In particular, what will care for the elderly look like in the future for people who cannot afford substantial private co-payments?
We live with a social system from 1883 (introduced by Bismark), when the average life expectancy was 40 years; today it is just under 80 years.
In 1910 there were 6 contributors for every pensioner, today there are 1.45. This year the government is presenting us with the 25th health reform since 1977, all based on the same principle: contributions up, benefits down.
Has no one yet come up with the idea that this doesn’t work? Does the future lie in a 12-bed room with a shared shower?
2:30 pm
Panel discussion: Reproach or understanding: Currently, very differently socialized generations meet on the job market – A plea for more togetherness! – with Q&A from the audience
Peter Böttger, founder of jobwalk, the association “AusBildung wird Qualität” and publisher of the podcast “jobtalk” moderates between executives, managing directors and members of GenZ.
Konstanze Hartmann, Team Manager Marketing, MICRO-HYBRID ELECTRONIC GMBH, Frederic Saß (28), student, Deniz Annak (28), student, Björn Blossey (39), Managing Director
3:45 pm
Farewell
Peter Böttger, organizer

