This analysis shows that 90 percent of businesses struggle to fill open positions with qualified applicants.

10,000 people participated in the representative poll, including 2,800 managers and HR specialists. 

Unfilled positions contributed to a loss of productivity in the workplace for about 76% of survey respondents, a 16 percentage point rise from pre-pandemic levels.

Professionals in the public sector in particular lamented the effects of staff shortages: 88 percent of them reported issues with the delivery of their goods and services.

The health and social services industries also reported a scarcity of skilled workers at 83 percent. Approximately 50,000 teachers and 14,000 nurses are currently needed in Germany. 

There are slated new recruits

Nearly every second employer in the public sector has recruitment plans for the upcoming three months in reaction to the tight situation. One third of all employers are generally looking to hire new employees.

In the previous three months, exactly the same number of businesses had also added new employees.

However, a single issue was brought up by 90% of respondents: they were having trouble filling open positions with qualified individuals.

When jobs go vacant, the economy suffers, according to Tobias Zimmermann, a labor market specialist. 

The future game-changer will be matching the right applicants with the right jobs and businesses.

A new rule that will make it simpler for skilled employees to enter Germany is scheduled to go into effect in March 2024. 

Nearly every career sector in Germany had 630,000 open positions last year, but there weren't enough competent candidates to fill them. 

Vocabulary

(Die) Neueinstellungen, or new hiring

Vacant Positions - Open Positions

Spielentscheider - (der) Gamechanger

services (the) Dienstleistungen