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There are many definitions of 'Industry 4.0'. A comprehensive one is that 'Industry 4.0' is the current trend towards automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies which are based on digital technology. It includes 'Cyber-Physical Systems' (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, and has an impact on all economic sectors. One of the highly relevant questions concerns the qualification requirements for employees on the 'shop-floor' and at the middle employment level. Depending on the implementation level of Industry 4.0 in companies, vocational education and training for the workforce is highly relevant and the vocational education system has to respond to the needs and expectations of these changes in the work world. Successful responses of the vocational system to the demands of Industry 4.0 have to focus on curriculum development and training of both skilled and highly skilled workers.

This article, therefore, makes use of a framework which refers to the core trends of the expected impact of Industry 4.0 to competences outlined in the different scenarios of the development of Industry 4.0. These scenarios outline two main types of changes caused by Industry 4.0: (1) changes in the content of work processes for applied technologies, accomplished tasks, work organisation and other factors; and (2) micro-structural changes of work and work processes resulting in vanishing and emerging occupations and professions. The first type of change enhances new competence needs and fosters adjustments and updating of qualifications whereas the second type of change often leads to the emergence or the disappearance of qualifications. Both types of change foster different shifts in the structure of qualifications

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