Companies in southern Thuringia opened their factory floors to visitors on 10 November 2026. During the event Industrie Intouch, businesses gave tours of their production and development facilities, offered trainee tours and provided information about training and career prospects in the region. The aim was to bring school pupils, university graduates, people starting their careers and other interested visitors together with potential employers.
The event was organised and coordinated by the South Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce together with the Industrie Intouch events platform. According to the chamber, companies from Schmalkalden-Meiningen,, Hildburghausen,, Sonneberg,, the Ilm-Kreis, as well as the independent city of Suhl. Advance notices said that some tours had been fully booked well ahead of time; places were limited at many locations.
According to the South Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce, interested visitors could register up to the day of the event. Several companies focused on trainee tours: apprentices guided groups through their work areas, explained their tasks and gave insights into training content and how to apply. HR staff were also available to discuss entry-level opportunities, internships and vacancies.
The event was prompted by the skilled-worker situation in less economically developed areas. Factory tours are intended to lower barriers, bring technical occupations to life and enable direct contact. Participating companies say visitors can see modern manufacturing and automation in action and learn about specific job profiles on site. The South Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce regards events such as Industrie Intouch as one way to attract skilled workers to the region and encourage young people to stay.
Reliable figures on visitor numbers, placements or subsequent recruitment are not yet available for this year's event. Regional media reported in advance that a wide range of small and medium-sized suppliers, as well as larger manufacturers, were taking part. Whether and to what extent the contacts lead to training contracts or employment remains to be seen. Organisers and companies nevertheless expect that accessible introductions and face-to-face conversations will improve perceptions of technical occupations and make it easier for people to decide whether to apply.
The information is based on statements from the South Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce, information from the Industrie Intouch platform and regional reports published in advance. Independent assessments of longer-term effects are generally published after the season ends; no reliable findings were available on the evening of 10 November.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).