Study on shortage occupations: Large skills gap despite weak economy

A KOFA study on the shortage of skilled workers is currently attracting attention among experts . The current situation on the German labor market presents a contradictory picture: On the one hand, the number of vacancies fell by an average of 4.2 percent in 2023/2024, while at the same time, unemployment rose by almost 9 percent to just under 1.1 million. Nevertheless, the so-called skills gap—that is, those positions for which there are no suitably qualified unemployed workers—remains at a historically high level. On average, 532,000 positions could not be filled . This means that, despite the weak economic situation, there is still a massive shortage of skilled workers in many sectors.

Affected sectors – where the gaps are particularly large

More than half of the vacancies are concentrated in just ten economic sectors. The health and social services , construction, public administration and retail are particularly affected. The shortage of skilled workers is particularly serious in the health sector : when care and support services are lacking, families have to step in privately - often by reducing their working hours. A bottleneck in one area thus exacerbates the shortage in completely different sectors. In the construction industry, a lack of skilled workers is delaying urgently needed projects, which directly impacts infrastructure and housing construction . Public administration is also urgently needing qualified employees, which is slowing down processes for citizens and companies.

Skilled labor shortage in industry – a threat to Germany as a business location

In addition to the service sectors, German industry is also suffering. One example is the metal industry : Despite production declines and job cuts, skilled workers in production-related occupations are still urgently needed. This has far-reaching consequences, as key industries such as the metal and automotive sectors are of central importance to the entire economy. If there are not enough skilled workers available, production potential cannot be fully utilized – which puts an additional strain on the already weak economy.

What this means for international professionals

This development offers opportunities for international skilled workers . Even in economically weaker times, Germany remains dependent on skilled immigration. Professions in healthcare and social services, skilled trades, technical production occupations, and public administration are particularly in demand. Anyone who works in one of these sectors or has completed training has excellent prospects in Germany . The new legal regulations on skilled immigration make it easier to find a job in these sectors and build long-term prospects.

Conclusion: Immigration is part of the solution

The KOFA study clearly shows that the shortage of skilled workers is not a temporary problem, but a structural challenge for the German labor market. International skilled workers can make a decisive contribution to closing these gaps and securing the competitiveness of the German economy. For foreign applicants, this means that those with the right qualifications will not only find job openings in Germany, but also long-term opportunities for a successful professional future.