Where skilled workers are in short supply in an economy, a significant number of vacancies for employees with certain skills remain unfilled because suitably trained people are not available on the labour market [1]. A labour shortage is felt in a company when it is unable to fill a significant number of vacancies [2]. Shortages of skilled workers and labour in general impact negatively on companies’ competitiveness and the safety and health of their employees, and jeopardize the potential for the economy and society to grow and provide welfare. Shortages of skilled workers and labour are caused primarily by demographic change.
According to an annual survey by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), companies in Germany were unable to fill around 45% of vacancies for skilled workers in the first half of 2022. The survey shows microenterprises to be particularly affected, being unable to fill 62% of vacancies for skilled workers. For large companies, the proportion was 24% [3]. Overall, the rate has almost doubled over the past ten years. Most vacancies, accounting for just under 58% of the total, are at the medium qualification level (completed apprenticeship) [4].
Many sectors are affected by a general shortage of labour, but the shortage of qualified specialists is particular acute. It is relatively easy to train workers, even those without professional experience, for unskilled positions; difficulties in recruiting people to such positions are more a symptom of companies’ being perceived as unattractive employers, and offering inadequate remuneration [5].
The shortage of skilled workers particularly affects STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) vocations: in 2023, a shortage of 285,800 workers was noted, including 132,100 vacancies for skilled workers and 122,300 for experts (persons educated to degree level) [6]. This jeopardizes both the digital transformation and the development of technologies and products, including those for combating climate change. Areas affected include, for example, expansion of renewable energies, upgrading and expansion of the electricity grids, development of new types of battery and establishment of a circular economy. Decarbonization in energy-intensive industries is also stalling [7]. A shortage of skilled workers also exists in the public sector: according to the German Civil Service Federation (DBB), the state was short of over 550,000 employees in 2023. Demand is particularly high in nursing and geriatric care, local government, schools and children’s daycare facilities. At the same time, tasks are increasing in areas such as all-day childrens’ care, property tax reform, the digitalization of public administration, and basic child benefits. The areas of education, immigration and internal security present particular challenges [8].
The situation on the traineeship market is already strained, with more and more companies unable to find trainees in sufficient numbers. In 2023, almost half of all companies in the chambers of industry and commerce that offer traineeships were affected [9]. Besides demographic reasons, this is also due to a low and barely increasing proportion of women in traineeships, at just 16.1% [10]. In the STEM sector, numbers of trainees and first-year university students alike are falling [11; 12].