The shortage of skilled workers in Germany has narrowed by approximately 18 percent year-on-year as of the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest report from the Competence Center for Skilled Workers (Kofa). The report, published by the “Rheinische Post” highlights a complex and ongoing challenge within the German labor market.
While the skills gap decreased by 17.9 percent compared to the previous year, it remains substantial, with an estimated 391,000 positions for qualified workers remaining unfilled as of June 2025. Despite the reduction, the nationwide situation remains tight, with more than one in three open positions technically unfillable.
Current labor market data reveals that the number of open positions for qualified workers stood at approximately 1.1 million in June, representing a 7.5 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. The number of qualified unemployed individuals reached around 1.2 million, exceeding the number of open positions and showing a 9.9 percent increase compared to June of the previous year. The inability to fill over 391,000 positions persisted, largely due to a mismatch between the skill sets of unemployed individuals and the requirements of available roles.
The Kofa report indicates that a majority (60.3 percent) of the technically unfillable open positions in June were for skilled workers with completed vocational training. Smaller proportions were attributable to specialists holding further education or bachelor’s degrees and experts with diplomas or master’s degrees.
Notably, the report points to significant reductions in skills shortages within specific professions. A dramatic decrease has been observed among bus and tram drivers, attributed to the reduced number of job postings. The skills gap in this sector has shrunk by approximately 43 percent from the first quarter of 2025. Kofa cites the challenging financial situation of many public transport operators as a primary contributing factor, compounded by rising energy prices and the implementation of the Deutschlandticket, which has placed financial strain on operators and complicated efforts to maintain service levels.
