Germany is desperate for skilled workers. Employers’ problems are growing again

have been struggling in the labor market for a long time. Companies are short of skilled workers, and the problem peaked in mid-2022. Then it was as much as 49.7 percent. of companies reported that they needed educated employees – . Since then, the problem has eased somewhat, and just as the situation seemed to be slowly improving, it got worse again.

Germany lacks skilled workers

By April 2023, the number of companies with a shortage of skilled workers fell to 42.2 percent. Although the situation improved, the next quarter brought a deterioration again. In July, 9,000 companies surveyed by Ifo, 43.1 percent. reported problems with qualified . This is the worst score ever

Despite the weakening economy, many companies are still desperately looking for the right employees

– says Ifo expert Stefan Sauer.

The biggest problems are in the service sector. As much as 75.3 percent of law and tax firms and audit firms cannot find the right employees. In the transport, architecture and engineering industries, two-thirds of companies have problems with staff, which is a new record. In IT, this problem concerns 43.1 percent. companies, among engineers-mechanics the shortage is reported by 40.9 percent, and in the industrial processing industry – 34.6 percent. Less than every third company and from the trade sector also report problems with qualified employees.

Germany has an economic problem

“Germany is again ‘the sick man of Europe’, ‘the German economy in a downward spiral’ – these are just examples of words that I have noted in the press in recent days. Indeed, the data indicate that it is the heart of the European economy that has been beating weakly in recent months” – he says in the video commentary (available below) Mikołaj Fidziński, Gazeta.pl Next journalist.

for example, readings of GDP growth (although this growth is different) and data on the economic situation in industry. PMI and Ifo indices recorded the weakest readings in months in July (PMI even for more than three years). Positive data also happens – the increase in export orders (including in aviation) for May and June was very good – which may dispel fears that after catching up with production backlogs (which are currently pulling the industry’s ears) there will be an even deeper slump. However, our western neighbors are not doing very well.