Germany is massively short of salespeople
Specialists are in short supply in many sectors. Where the gaps are expected to be particularly pronounced in the coming years, researchers are investigating - and highlighting several professions.
How will the skills gap develop in the coming years? Researchers at the Institute of the German Economy (IW), which is close to employers, have examined this. The largest gap is expected to be among salespeople. By 2027, there could be around 37,000 skilled workers missing, according to a study.
There are already shortages of salespeople in many places. In 2022, the number of unemployed in this area was significantly lower than the number of vacancies (65,000). According to the study's author and economist Alexander Burstedde, this is also due to many employees having changed careers during the Corona pandemic and not returning to their old jobs. Sales professionals are the fourth-largest occupational group in Germany, with around 850,000 people. This includes retail merchants and specialist salespersons.
The experts expect the second-largest skills gap among educators. By 2027, more than 27,600 positions could remain unfilled, according to calculations. While the number of employees is increasing, it is not doing so fast enough to cover the rapidly growing demand, says Burstedde. "We need more educators to enable parents to work more." There are also shortages of skilled workers in social work, nursing, and IT.
Larger gap coming to the East
Overall, an increasing skills gap is expected in the coming years, with the increase in Eastern Germany being more pronounced, according to IW. The main reason for this is that many people will retire in the coming years and there is not enough new talent coming in.
The IW predicts the largest decline in employment by 2027 for unskilled and semi-skilled workers in metalworking and trained bank clerks. "The old saying 'Do something secure and become a bank clerk' is no longer valid. Banks don't know what to do with the people at the counters because many branches are closing and customers are using online banking," says Burstedde.
The scientist recommends two measures to combat the skills gap. Employers should try to keep older people in employment longer. Migrants also offer great potential for counteracting shortages.
Due to a large number of retirements in the coming years, Eastern Germany is expected to experience a more pronounced skills gap, with the IW predicting the largest decline in employment for unskilled and semi-skilled workers in metalworking and trained bank clerks.
With many employed individuals switching careers during the Corona pandemic and not returning to their previous jobs, sales professionals, who make up the fourth-largest occupational group in Germany with around 850,000 people, are currently experiencing significant shortages.
