The automotive sector’s job listings fell by 20 % last year, finds the media‑research firm Index.
Its experts matched 86,105 vacancy posts-a sharp drop from about 99,000 the year before and 136,000 in 2023.
The decline hits academic positions most heavily. Openings in research and development have shrunk 29 %. Management roles also suffer a steep decline, down 37 %. Only one field has grown: legal and tax positions are up 16 %.
Regionally, the effect is strongest in Bavaria with a 32 % drop, followed by Baden-Württemberg, down 22 %. More job seekers are looking outside traditional automotive hubs, turning their search to cities such as Hamburg and Frankfurt.
