Skills shortage in Germany: Decline in skills gap not an indicator of easing situation

Last year, 570,000 job vacancies in Germany could not be filled with qualified candidates – in 2022, this gap was even larger, at 630,000, an increase of just under 11%. But how could the actual skilled labor gap narrow despite the much-cited shortage of skilled workers? This is explained in a study by the Competence Center for Securing Skilled Labor (KOFA), which is based at the German Economic Institute.

First, the study shows in which areas the shortage of skilled workers was particularly drastic in 2023: These include, above all, the health and social professions (56% of positions unfilled) and the skilled trades sector (53.7% unfilled). In transportation professions, the skilled labor gap also increased significantly – by around 89% compared to the previous year. In most occupational fields, however, there were fewer unfilled positions in 2023 than in the previous year.

According to KOFA, however, these figures do not mean that the shortage of skilled workers is easing. Instead, the current situation can be attributed to a decline in the number of jobs available, which is accompanied by an increase in the unemployment rate. Both factors are symptomatic of the current gloomy economic situation. If the overall economic situation improves, the shortage of skilled workers is likely to become more pressing again.

We were also interested in the following topics:

• Digitalization: In the future, employment contracts in Germany can also be signed digitally. A corresponding provision is to be included in the traffic light coalition's draft bill on reducing bureaucracy, writes the Saarbrücker Zeitung.

• AI in the workplace: Around two-thirds of students expect to be able to rely on AI to make their future jobs easier, according to a survey by consulting firm Ernst & Young. According to the survey, around 86% of students use AI applications at least occasionally.

• A say in the company: From the employees' point of view, multinational corporations often make it difficult to effectively represent the interests of employees, according to a study by the University of Trier. The Hans Böckler Foundation has summarized the key findings of the study.

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