Germany’s Shortage of Skilled Workers Eases Slightly

The shortage of skilled workers among companies in Germany has eased somewhat. According to the survey, 36.3% of firms are currently suffering from a shortage of qualified workers, down from 38.7% in October 2023. A year ago, it was 43.6%. “The weakening economy is reducing demand for skilled workers in the short term,” says ifo expert Klaus Wohlrabe, “but the fundamental problem is here to stay.”

“When the economy picks up again, the shortage will become more acute again,” Wohlrabe adds. “What’s more, demographic change will further exacerbate the problem in the years ahead.”

Service providers are particularly hard hit (42%). In legal and accounting services, 69.2% of companies are not finding the applicants they need. In the hotel business and in logistics, roughly one company in two is desperately looking for skilled personnel. Due to the lack of orders in manufacturing, the shortage of skilled workers has been easing for more than a year and now stands at 28.2%. The hardest hit among manufacturers is the food industry at 40.3%. In trade and construction, somewhat more than one-quarter of companies complain about a shortage of qualified workers.