The shortage of IT professionals in Germany has nearly halved over the past three years. According to the industry association Bitkom, companies currently lack 79,000 IT specialists, a substantial drop from the 149,000 needed in 2023. Despite this reduction, the situation remains tense, as 78 percent of businesses still report experiencing a lack of IT talent. Only 14 percent deem the current supply sufficient, while a further five percent note an oversupply. Looking ahead, however, 76 percent expect the IT skills gap to worsen in the coming years, compared to 15 percent who anticipate a static shortage and eight percent predicting a decrease.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), the study indicates that its influence on the IT job market is currently marginal. Of companies with IT positions, 42 percent are already utilizing AI, and another 36 percent plan to implement it, with 13 percent currently discussing its use. Only seven percent view AI as irrelevant to the IT sector. However, where AI is implemented, it is generally not yet systematic; 43 percent use the technology only occasionally, 46 percent use it in certain areas, and only seven percent have implemented it in nearly all functions. A widespread deployment across the industry has not yet materialized.
The integration of AI into IT may increase the demand for specialized staff. Forty-nine percent of companies anticipate growing demand for IT professionals possessing AI knowledge. Of this group, 19 percent are certain of this increase, while 30 percent are likely. Conversely, 48 percent do not expect additional needs, including 17 percent who are certain no extra hiring will be required and 31 percent who are unlikely to need it.
