IN GERMANY, the shortage of skilled workers reached record proportions in 2022 despite a relatively weak economy, a new study has shown. More than 630,000 vacant positions for skilled workers could not be filled last year because there were no suitably qualified unemployed people across the country, according to the Competence Center for Securing Skilled Workers (Kofa) of the German Economic Institute (IW).

This is the largest gap in the supply of skilled labor since measurements began in 2010. The sectors of healthcare, social services, teaching and education were among the hardest hit, along with construction, architecture, geodesy and construction technology, where six out of ten vacancies remained unfilled.

There was also an above-average shortage of skilled workers in the natural sciences, geography and the IT sector. The shortage of skilled workers in commercial services, trade, sales, hospitality and tourism nearly tripled last year, the study states, with three out of ten open positions remaining unfilled last year.

The shortage of suitably qualified labor has long been reflected in the labor market, and it is widely known that immigration is needed to solve this problem. In March, around 45.6 million people were employed across Germany, more than ever before. Despite the economic downturn, inflation and political uncertainties, employers from industry, trade and the service sector managed to secure skilled workers.

Source: index.hr