Engineering labor market under pressure: shortage of skilled workers despite the crisis
Unemployment in IT and engineering professions rose by 17.6 percent, while the total number of vacancies fell by 23 percent to 99,470
The latest VDI/IW Engineer Monitor shows that the engineering labor market is facing challenges. Unemployment in IT and engineering professions rose by 17.6%, while the total number of vacancies fell by 23% to 99,470. IT, plastics production and the chemical industry are particularly affected. In contrast, metal processing recorded a slight increase in vacancies. Despite the economic downturn, there is still a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the construction industry, where there are 306 vacancies for every 100 unemployed people.
VDI expert Maximilian Stindt expects digitalization, climate protection and investments to increase the demand for skilled workers in the long term. The VDI emphasizes the importance of integrating foreign skilled workers and calls for practice-oriented engineering training. The "Future Germany 2050" initiative presents 28 examples of good practice in this area. The shortage of skilled workers could jeopardize the future of Germany as a technology location.
