Skilled crafts and trades, with its many small and medium-sized businesses, are regarded as the backbone of the national economy and are sources of growth and employment. The region of the Chamber of Crafts Reutlingen with the districts of Freudenstadt, Reutlingen, Sigmaringen, Tübingen and Zollernalb generates annual sales of 9.2 billion euros.
Skilled crafts are on the one hand occupations with a long tradition, such as goldsmiths, silversmiths and saddlers. On the other hand modern technologies are essential in almost all crafts today. Complex production processes, for example in the field of medical or dental technology or in the aerospace industry, require precision and technical know-how. Skilled crafts means lifelong learning, especially in occupations where ever-evolving technologies play a role.