Many of those once employed as semi-skilled workers are now fighting for low-wage jobs.

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Germany has around 1.5m unfilled job vacancies, some 40% of them for unskilled or semi-skilled workers.

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Given South Africa's high unemployment, unskilled workers are easy to replace, but skilled and semi-skilled workers are not.

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There are many semi-skilled workers employed there now on much better wages than they would earn as domestic helpers.

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He also said Malaysia planned to increase the number of technical and vocational schools to widen the pool of skilled and semi-skilled workers.

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The government employs a wide variety of skilled and semi-skilled workers.

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Among these young men - from families of skilled or semi-skilled workers - more than two-thirds never expect to own their own home, says a survey.

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These youngsters face the loss of jobs for skilled and semi-skilled industrial workers and an increase in temporary, service-sector jobs.

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The union claims the move would lead to skilled workers, including electricians, pipe-fitters and plumbers, being forced to work on semi-skilled grades and losing up to a third of their pay.

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