Study: About a quarter of companies in Germany suffer from a shortage of skilled workers

About a quarter of companies in Germany suffer from a shortage of skilled workers, according to a study conducted by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, the results of which were published by the German News Agency.

23.2% of the companies participating in a survey conducted by the institute’s experts stated that they suffer from a shortage of qualified workers, an increase of more than two percentage points compared to what they were last April. However, this percentage is still well below the long-term average of about a third (31.7%).

The institute's expert, Daria Schaller, said: "The weak economic situation currently keeps the demand for skilled labor within certain limits, and as the economy recovers stronger, the shortage of skilled labor is likely to increase significantly again."

In the services sector, the percentage of companies having difficulty finding skilled workers stabilized at approximately 25.7%, while some sectors recorded notable increases. In the telecommunications sector, the percentage increased from 16.3% to 31.1%, which is the highest level since October 2023. It also increased in the legal, tax consulting and auditing sectors from 52.4% to 64.7%.

In the industrial sector, 18.7% of companies reported a shortage of skilled workers, an increase of 4.5 percentage points compared to last April, while the paper industry recorded one of the highest shortage rates at 35%. About a third of companies in the main construction sector, 32.6%, reported that they suffer from a shortage of skilled workers.

Schaller added: An increase in the number of unemployed does not automatically mean an increase in the number of skilled workers available. The decisive factor is the extent to which qualifications match the requirements of vacant positions.