Only two educators to look after 30 children? No one answers the doctor's phone because the assistants can't keep up with the work? Waiting for weeks for the electrician? The shortage of skilled workers in Germany is visible and tangible in many professions. We have summarized here which sectors are particularly affected and why.
Skilled labor shortage: What is it anyway?
Skilled labor shortage refers to the situation in which the demand for qualified specialists in certain industries or occupations exceeds the supply. This means that there are not enough trained and experienced workers to fill the vacancies in a particular field.
The term should be distinguished from similar terms such as labor shortage, which generally refers to a lack of workers, regardless of their qualifications. Skills mismatch occurs when the qualifications of the available workers do not match the requirements of the vacant positions.
Which professions are particularly affected by the shortage of skilled workers?
The shortage of skilled workers in Germany affects numerous industries and professional fields that are essential for the economy and social life. Here are the most important sectors in which the shortage of qualified specialists is particularly pronounced:
Technical professions
There is an acute shortage of skilled workers in technical professions such as IT specialists, engineers and technicians. Rapid technological development and digitalization constantly require new skills and knowledge, which the current training and further education offerings often cannot adequately cover.
By 2040, according to Bitkom long-term study There is a shortage of 663,000 IT specialists.
Healthcare
The healthcare system suffers from a significant shortage of doctors, nurses and medical professionals. Demographic change and the increasing number of older people are leading to an increased need for medical care, while at the same time many professionals are retiring.
One PwC study predicts that in 2035 almost 1.8 million vacancies in the healthcare sector will no longer be able to be filled.
Read also: AI in nursing: 5 examples of how it can counteract staff shortages
Crafts
There is a shortage of electricians, plumbers and mechatronics engineers in the skilled trades. The skilled trades sector is struggling with a lack of young talent, as many young people are more likely to pursue academic careers and perceive skilled trades as less attractive.
Loud Federal Employment Agency The number of shortage occupations in the industry has increased dramatically in recent years – there is now a shortage of skilled workers in one in three skilled trades.
Education
There are also bottlenecks in the education system, especially among teachers and educators. The increasing number of students and the introduction of all-day schools increase the need for qualified staff, which is not sufficiently available.
Educational scientist Klaus Klemm speaks of a skills gap of 81,000 teachers in 2030 and a study The Bertelsmann Foundation's August 2021 study predicts a shortage of around 230,000 skilled workers.
Transport and logistics
Truck drivers and logistics managers are particularly in demand in the transport and logistics industry. Booming online trade and the global networking of the economy are leading to a growing demand for transport and logistics services, while the job of truck driver is considered unattractive.
48 percent of logistics companies reported 2022 will see a shortage of staff – and the trend is increasing.
Read also: Truck driver shortage in Germany: The numbers and reasons at a glance
Services sector
The service sector, especially tourism and The catering industry suffers from a shortage of skilled workersLong working hours, comparatively low wages and often irregular working hours make it difficult to find sufficiently qualified staff.
Almost 50 % of companies in the service sector in Germany were affected by the skills gap in 2022, and there is no relief in sight.
economy and administration
There is also a shortage of qualified specialists in business and administration. There is a high demand for specialised specialists, particularly in the areas of finance, human resources management and business management, which cannot be met by the current supply.
It is believed assumedthat banks and insurance companies will lose more than 30% of their employees by 2030 and that personnel requirements will increase accordingly.
Mechanical engineering
In mechanical engineering, one of Germany's most important industries, there is a high demand for qualified engineers and technicians. The high level of innovation and international competitiveness require highly qualified specialists who are difficult to find.
According to a VDMA study Two out of three companies in the mechanical engineering sector have vacancies for engineers, and around 60 out of 500 have vacancies for technicians.
architecture
Architects are also in demand, especially in the wake of urban growth and the need for sustainable building concepts. The planning and implementation of complex construction projects requires highly qualified and experienced specialists, who are in short supply.
Loud Employment agency “Reported demand for architects and civil engineers in 2021 and 2022 was higher than at any time in the last ten years.”
Natural Sciences
There is a shortage of qualified specialists in the natural sciences, especially in the fields of chemistry, physics and biology. Research institutions and companies are urgently looking for specialists who can drive innovative projects forward.
There is a shortage of almost 300,000 workers in MINT professions – the abbreviation stands for mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. The need will continue to grow, as can be seen from the MINT Autumn Report 2023 of the IW.
Environment and Agriculture
There is also a shortage of skilled workers in the environmental and agricultural sectors. The increasing importance of climate protection, sustainable agriculture and ecological projects requires expert knowledge that is only available to a limited extent.
Although the federal government does not expect any shortages of skilled agricultural workers by 2027, experts from associations and science give no all-clear.
Impact on the innovative power of certain sectors
The shortage of skilled workers has a significant impact on innovation in various industries by limiting the ability of companies to develop new ideas and implement technological advances.
In construction, for example, the shortage of architects and engineers is delaying the introduction of innovative building concepts and sustainable techniques that are crucial for the future development of the industry. In agriculture, the implementation of modern technologies such as precision farming is hampered by the lack of skilled workers familiar with the latest farming methods.
Gastronomy and tourism are also suffering from the skills gap, as the lack of labor slows down the development of new services and business models. In education, the lack of teachers and educators prevents the introduction of new teaching methods and digital learning tools.
The shortage of software developers and IT specialists is hindering the development of new software solutions, the implementation of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and the management of complex IT systems. In the healthcare sector, the lack of skilled personnel is delaying the development of new treatment methods and medical technologies, as the necessary research and development processes are progressing slowly.
Causes of the shortage of skilled workers
The shortage of skilled workers in Germany has a variety of causes that are often interrelated. In order to better understand this problem, it is important to examine the various factors that lead to this shortage:
- Demographic change: Ageing population and increasing retirement ages. Falling birth rates and therefore fewer young people entering the labour market.
- Digitalization and technological change: Rapidly advancing technological developments that require new skills and knowledge. Emergence of new professional fields for which there are no established training paths.
- Changing work requirements: Higher requirements for qualifications and specializations in many professions. Change in the world of work towards more knowledge work and less routine work.
- Education and training system: Insufficient adaptation of training and study programmes to current and future labour market needs.
- Attractiveness of certain professions: Jobs with unattractive working conditions, such as poor pay, high workloads or unfavorable working hours. Low social recognition of certain jobs.
Measures to combat staff shortages in many professions
To counteract the shortage of skilled workers, companies and institutions are implementing various targeted measures. These initiatives aim to both qualify existing employees and attract new skilled workers and increase the attractiveness of the professions concerned.
- Promoting continuing professional development: Investing in training and further education to qualify existing employees and prepare them for new requirements.
- Increase in apprenticeships: The creation of additional training places aims to secure young talent for various professions.
- Improving working conditions: The profession should be made more attractive through better working hours, higher wages and additional benefits.
- Promoting the compatibility of family and career: Flexible working hours and home office options support the integration of skilled workers with family obligations.
- Targeted immigration: The adaptation of immigration laws facilitates the recruitment of staff from abroad.
- Promoting women in technical professions: Initiatives and programs support women in pursuing careers in male-dominated fields.
- Keeping older workers in the job longer: Age-appropriate workplaces and health promotion measures help to retain experienced employees until retirement.
- Creating incentives for starting a career: Scholarships, study grants and internship offers motivate young people to choose occupations where there is a shortage of skilled workers.
- Use of modern recruiting tools: By using flynne, companies from all industries find previously undiscovered talent and suitable career changers.
Gloomy future forecast: Seven million workers could be missing by 2035
By 2035, the German labor market could shrink by seven million workers if no countermeasures are taken. This forecast comes from the Nuremberg Institute for Employment Research (IAB).
The main reason for this is that many members of the baby boomer generation (born between 1955 and 1969) will soon retire. The study suggests solving or at least mitigating the problem by increasing employment rates, especially among older workers and migrants, and through targeted immigration.
Co-author Enzo Weber emphasizes that Germany will lose seven million workers, one seventh of its labor market, by 2035 due to demographic change. However, this development can be stopped if measures are taken to keep older workers in the job market, promote the professional development of women, attract and integrate migrants, reduce unemployment and increase the birth rate.