The skilled labor shortage in Germany has risen slightly again. According to the Ifo Institute, 23.2 percent of companies reported a need for qualified staff in July, up from 21.1 percent in April. Despite this increase, the deficit remains below the long-term average of 31.7 percent.
Ifo researcher Daria Schaller commented that the current weak economic climate is helping to limit the demand for skilled workers. However, she added that if the economy recovers more strongly, the shortage is likely to intensify significantly.
Within the services sector, the percentage of companies failing to find enough qualified staff remained largely steady at 25.7 percent. Nevertheless, some specific industries saw sharp upticks. In telecommunications, the figure jumped from 16.3 percent to 31.1 percent, reaching its highest level since October 2023. The legal, tax consulting, and auditing sectors also rose strongly, climbing to 64.7 percent from a previous 52.4 percent. In retail, the skilled labor shortage remained at a comparatively low level of 16.2 percent.
In the industry sector, 18.7 percent of companies reported a lack of qualified staff-a noticeable increase of 4.5 percentage points compared to April. The paper industry, in particular, is finding it difficult to recruit adequately trained employees, with 35.0 percent reporting an issue. Meanwhile, nearly one in three companies (32.6 percent) in the main construction trades reported a shortage of skilled workers.
Schaller cautioned that a higher number of unemployed people does not automatically translate into more available or qualified workers. Instead, she stressed that the crucial factor is whether the qualifications of the applicants align with the requirements of the open positions.
