Rapid Expansion of Skills Deficits Reported in Recent Research - Rapid expansion of unskilled labor deficit projected, as per research findings
The German labor market is bracing for a substantial skills gap by 2028, with an estimated 768,000 positions remaining unfilled due to a lack of adequately qualified professionals, compared to an average of 487,000 in 2024. This alarming trend is primarily affecting the technology, AI, and sales sectors.
### Key Occupations with Largest Skills Gaps
1. **AI and ICT Specialists** - Germany is experiencing a significant shortage of AI professionals, with a talent gap of 78% in 2024. The demand for 190,000–219,000 AI jobs is expected by 2028, but only 62,000 professionals are projected to be available, representing a 67–72% deficit. - This shortage is prevalent across various sectors heavily using AI, such as automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles.
2. **Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Specialists** - Germany has the highest difficulty in filling vacancies for ICT specialists in the EU, with a 72.4% vacancy problem in 2024.
3. **Sales Professionals (Non-product Specialized)** - By 2026, a shortage of approximately 26,192 skilled workers in the sales industry is forecasted, excluding product specialization.
4. **Childcare and Social Work** - Childcare and social work also rank among the top occupations facing shortages, reflecting demographic trends and social service demands.
### Why These Gaps Exist
- Rapid technological advancement and digitalization in Germany's economy, particularly with AI, require highly specialized skills in emerging technologies faster than the workforce can be trained. - Large government investments in AI and digital education aim to close the gap but have not yet fully met industry needs. - Growing demand in service and manufacturing sectors using AI and digital technologies further increases pressure on the labor market to fill these technical roles. - Demographic factors and evolving market complexity lead to shortages in sales and social sectors as well.
Experts recommend expanding career orientation in schools, facilitating large-scale qualified immigration, and increasing incentives for longer working lives to combat the skills gap. The predicted occupations with the largest skills gaps in Germany by 2028 primarily centre around technology, AI, and sales sectors due to strong demand and insufficient qualified workers.
To address the impending skills gap in the technology, AI, and sales sectors by 2028 in Germany, community policies could emphasize education-and-self-development, particularly in vocational training for AI and Information Communication Technology (ICT) specialists, childcare and social work, and sales professionals. This might involve expanding career orientation in schools, investing in digital education, and facilitating qualified immigration. Financially supporting businesses offering vocational training programs could also be a viable solution to bridge the skills gap and stimulate economic growth.
