Finding skilled workers has eased for German companies, according to the Ifo Institute’s latest business climate survey. The proportion of firms reporting a shortage fell to 22.7 % from 25.8 % in October-its lowest level in five years. Ifo researcher Klaus Wohlrabe notes that a weak economic outlook still plays a role, but the ongoing technological shift-especially artificial intelligence-continues to reshape the labour market.
The most pronounced improvement appears in transport and logistics, where the share of firms affected dropped from 42.7 % to 30.6 %. Overall, about one in four service providers complained of lacking staff. Legal and tax advisors (58.4 %) and temporary‑employment agencies (56.6 %) still frequently face a lack of qualified workers.
In industry, 16.6 % of companies report a shortage, a half‑percentage‑point lower than in October. The automotive sector and manufacturers of electrical equipment both see rates just below 10 %. In machine building, the figure is about 19 %.
Retail has also seen a modest improvement: roughly 18 % of firms struggle to fill open positions (21.6 % in retail, 16.2 % in wholesale). By contrast, the construction sector remains heavily affected, with 30.4 % of firms reporting shortages.
Despite the overall decline, Wohlrabe warns that structural challenges persist. “The aging population combined with a profound technological shift will continue to alter demand for specific qualifications” he said.
