Germany job vacancies and labour shortage
Germany job vacancies and labour shortage, including vacancy rates from the IAB, Eurostat and KfW.
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| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | Q3-2023 | Q2-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAB job vacancy survey6 | ||||||||||||||
| Vacancies by region1 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany2 | 1,023.4 | 1,153.2 | 1,259 | 1,039.8 | 1,058.4 | 1,158.4 | 1,568.3 | 1,278.8 | 1,375.2 | 1,597.4 | 1,713 | 1,703.7 | 1,746.2 | |
| West Germany | 820.4 | 919 | 1,033.4 | 841.8 | 858.1 | 944.7 | 1,277.9 | 1,023.6 | 1,096.1 | 1,286.6 | 1,410.2 | 1,417.9 | 1,443.7 | |
| East Germany | 203 | 234.2 | 225.6 | 198 | 200.3 | 213.7 | 290.4 | 255.1 | 279.1 | 310.9 | 302.8 | 285.8 | 302.5 | |
| By establishment size1 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany total6 | 1,023.4 | 1,153.2 | 1,259 | 1,039.8 | 1,058.4 | 1,158.4 | 1,568.3 | 1,278.8 | 1,375.2 | 1,597.4 | 1,713 | 1,703.7 | 1,746.2 | |
| 1 to 9 employees | 269.1 | 325.4 | 379.8 | 276.9 | 238.3 | 281.5 | 434.6 | 284.9 | 362.1 | 452.5 | 504.1 | 494.5 | 502.8 | |
| 10 to 19 employees | 100.8 | 131.2 | 158.7 | 107.9 | 127.7 | 131.9 | 199.7 | 162.7 | 178.2 | 201.8 | 232 | 253.1 | 248.9 | |
| 20 to 49 employees | 166.4 | 197.2 | 208.7 | 140.8 | 169.7 | 182.3 | 264.2 | 226.8 | 219.1 | 250.4 | 299.8 | 323.1 | 333.9 | |
| 50 to 249 employees | 223.3 | 254.5 | 278.6 | 270.3 | 220.4 | 269.7 | 302.1 | 279.8 | 285 | 337.4 | 403.3 | 427.9 | 419.2 | |
| 250 to 499 employees | 105.8 | 71.5 | 87.3 | 93.8 | 106.8 | 121.5 | 201.3 | 182.1 | 189.4 | 199 | 111.7 | 90.1 | 106.4 | |
| 500 or more employees | 158.1 | 173.4 | 145.8 | 150.1 | 195.5 | 171.4 | 166.5 | 142.5 | 141.4 | 156.4 | 162 | 115 | 135 | |
| By economic sector1 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany total11 | 1,023.4 | 1,153.2 | 1,258.9 | 1,039.8 | 1,058.4 | 1,158.4 | 1,568.3 | 1,278.8 | 1,375.2 | 1,597.4 | 1,713 | 1,703.7 | 1,746.2 | |
| Agriculture and forestry | 5.5 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 10.2 | 10.4 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 12.3 | 12.7 | |
| Mining, energy, water and waste | 11.7 | 11.4 | 12.4 | 10.3 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 16.1 | 15.1 | 14.5 | 15 | 17.8 | 15.9 | 17.6 | |
| Manufacturing | 119.8 | 104.6 | 132.6 | 111.6 | 127.8 | 110.6 | 166.2 | 145.7 | 147.8 | 169 | 201.8 | 199.8 | 192.2 | |
| Construction | 108.8 | 114 | 122 | 90.9 | 89.1 | 89 | 130.1 | 102 | 119.6 | 140.1 | 167.1 | 155.8 | 162.5 | |
| Trade | 109.6 | 121.4 | 148.3 | 99.6 | 113.2 | 115.2 | 171.8 | 133 | 171.3 | 181.6 | 184.6 | 162.1 | 168.2 | |
| Transport and storage | 59 | 55.8 | 68 | 64.2 | 61.8 | 71.1 | 95.5 | 84.2 | 68.2 | 80.7 | 90.2 | 90 | 108.7 | |
| Information and communication | 35.5 | 43.4 | 43.3 | 36.6 | 40.2 | 54.4 | 63.3 | 48.7 | 52.9 | 67.3 | 67.5 | 71.4 | 62.8 | |
| Financial and insurance services | 26.5 | 22.2 | 28.3 | 23.4 | 24.2 | 23 | 34.7 | 27.6 | 30.1 | 31.4 | 35.2 | 33.8 | 28.9 | |
| Business-related services | 203.4 | 249 | 287.1 | 245.3 | 265.4 | 309.6 | 375.3 | 333.7 | 321.8 | 414.7 | 420.7 | 407 | 444.1 | |
| Other services | 308.3 | 373 | 367.5 | 303 | 265.6 | 307.8 | 453.3 | 347.8 | 395.7 | 440.2 | 475.3 | 520.6 | 518.5 | |
| Public administration and social security | 35.4 | 48.3 | 38.8 | 45.1 | 49.9 | 55 | 51.7 | 32.8 | 42.8 | 45.7 | 39.5 | 35 | 30 | |
| By qualification required3 | ||||||||||||||
| No vocational qualification or unskilled | 24.2 | 27.4 | 24 | |||||||||||
| Vocational or technical qualification | 57.9 | 55 | 55.2 | |||||||||||
| University degree | 17.8 | 17.6 | 20.8 | |||||||||||
| By intended start date2 | ||||||||||||||
| Immediate vacancies: Germany2 | 827.7 | 912.4 | 1,018.4 | 817.7 | 865.5 | 893.8 | 1,273.2 | 1,033.4 | 1,128.5 | 1,254.2 | 1,441.6 | 1,287.8 | 1,356.6 | |
| Immediate vacancies: West Germany | 669.8 | 729.8 | 830.3 | 665.5 | 710.1 | 732.8 | 1,038.7 | 834.7 | 895.8 | 1,015.8 | 1,188.4 | 1,071.7 | 1,115.7 | |
| Immediate vacancies: East Germany | 157.9 | 182.6 | 188 | 152.2 | 155.4 | 161 | 234.5 | 198.8 | 232.7 | 238.5 | 253.2 | 216.1 | 241 | |
| Vacancies to be filled later: Germany2 | 195.7 | 240.8 | 240.6 | 222.1 | 192.9 | 264.6 | 295.1 | 245.3 | 246.7 | 343.2 | 271.3 | 415.9 | 389.6 | |
| Vacancies to be filled later: West Germany | 150.6 | 189.2 | 203.1 | 176.3 | 148 | 211.9 | 239.2 | 189 | 200.3 | 270.8 | 221.8 | 346.2 | 328 | |
| Vacancies to be filled later: East Germany | 45.1 | 51.6 | 37.5 | 45.8 | 44.9 | 52.7 | 55.9 | 56.3 | 46.4 | 72.4 | 49.5 | 69.7 | 61.6 | |
| Vacancy-market ratios3 | ||||||||||||||
| Registration rate: Germany2 | 51.97 | 50.88 | 43.1 | 48.65 | 48.74 | 47.68 | 42.91 | 47.9 | 49.19 | 47.65 | 41.14 | 41.33 | 41.27 | |
| Registration rate: West Germany | 49.9 | 50.2 | 42.41 | 48 | 47.98 | 46.68 | 42.55 | 46.72 | 48.48 | 46.73 | 40.89 | 40.91 | 41.05 | |
| Registration rate: East Germany | 60.3 | 53.63 | 46.23 | 51.41 | 52.02 | 52.08 | 44.56 | 52.69 | 51.99 | 51.46 | 42.31 | 43.39 | 42.35 | |
| Vacancy rate: Germany2 | 2.32 | 2.55 | 2.81 | 2.29 | 2.42 | 2.5 | 3.49 | 2.88 | 3.14 | 3.48 | 3.95 | 3.57 | 3.76 | |
| Vacancy rate: West Germany | 2.29 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.28 | 2.43 | 2.5 | 3.48 | 2.84 | 3.05 | 3.45 | 3.98 | 3.64 | 3.79 | |
| Vacancy rate: East Germany | 2.44 | 2.82 | 2.86 | 2.34 | 2.39 | 2.48 | 3.52 | 3.02 | 3.52 | 3.61 | 3.79 | 3.27 | 3.64 | |
| Unemployed persons per vacancy: Germany2 | 2.91 | 2.64 | 2.31 | 2.87 | 2.77 | 2.55 | 1.78 | 2.2 | 1.99 | 1.74 | 1.53 | 1.55 | 1.47 | |
| Unemployed persons per vacancy: West Germany | 2.79 | 2.54 | 2.17 | 2.73 | 2.63 | 2.41 | 1.68 | 2.12 | 1.92 | 1.65 | 1.42 | 1.43 | 1.36 | |
| Unemployed persons per vacancy: East Germany | 3.39 | 3.01 | 2.97 | 3.44 | 3.37 | 3.19 | 2.21 | 2.53 | 2.28 | 2.09 | 2.01 | 2.14 | 1.99 | |
| Job vacancy rate by industry, NACE Rev. 2.1 (Eurostat)20 | ||||||||||||||
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1.6 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | |
| Mining and quarrying | 0.8 | 2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2 | 2.2 | |
| Manufacturing | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 2 | 2 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 | |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.4 | |
| Water supply, sewerage and waste management | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.1 | |
| Construction | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.5 | |
| Wholesale and retail trade | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3 | 3.1 | |
| Transportation and storage | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 4 | 3.6 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 | |
| Accommodation and food service | 2.3 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 5.6 | |
| Publishing and broadcasting | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.1 | |
| Telecommunications and information technology | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.1 | |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2.3 | 2 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.7 | |
| Real estate activities | 1.5 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.4 | |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 5.5 | |
| Administrative and support service activities | 4.2 | 5 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 6.9 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.3 | |
| Public administration and defence | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | |
| Education | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 3 | 2.5 | 3 | |
| Human health and social work | 3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 4.5 | |
| Arts, sports and recreation | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3 | 4 | 3.3 | |
| Other service activities | 2 | 3 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3 | |
| Skilled labour shortage (KfW-ifo Skilled Labour Barometer)3 | ||||||||||||||
| Share of firms hampered: by firm size and region2 | ||||||||||||||
| Including construction1 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany including construction8 | 21.1 | 22.7 | 25.8 | 28.1 | 27.2 | 28.3 | 31.9 | 33.8 | 34.9 | 36.3 | 38.7 | 43.1 | 42.2 | |
| SMEs, Germany including construction | 22 | 23.3 | 26.1 | 28.6 | 27.9 | 28.4 | 32.1 | 34.4 | 34.2 | 35.9 | 38.7 | 42.1 | 41.3 | |
| Large enterprises, Germany including construction | 19.3 | 21.4 | 25.1 | 27.2 | 25.9 | 28.2 | 31.5 | 32.7 | 36.3 | 37 | 38.6 | 45.1 | 44 | |
| Bavaria including construction | 21.5 | 23.2 | 24.3 | 27.6 | 26.8 | 29.3 | 31.2 | 33 | 34.1 | 37.4 | 37.6 | 44.8 | 44.8 | |
| Baden-Württemberg including construction | 19.5 | 18.6 | 21.6 | 25.9 | 25 | 25.7 | 27.6 | 33 | 32.1 | 33.6 | 37.8 | 39.8 | 41.1 | |
| Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland including construction | 17.2 | 19 | 22.7 | 25.9 | 25.8 | 26.8 | 33.9 | 32.3 | 31.8 | 34 | 37.7 | 39 | 35.4 | |
| North Rhine-Westphalia including construction | 21.6 | 22.6 | 25.4 | 25.6 | 27.1 | 25.6 | 30.2 | 32.3 | 31.8 | 31.4 | 37 | 41.1 | 37.7 | |
| Eastern Germany including construction | 23 | 25.3 | 29 | 33.2 | 30.7 | 29.5 | 35.5 | 38.4 | 39.7 | 42.1 | 43.7 | 46.6 | 47.8 | |
| Northern Germany including construction | 23.3 | 24.8 | 30.2 | 30.8 | 27.4 | 31.9 | 33.7 | 32.8 | 36.9 | 34.3 | 33.3 | 41 | 41.3 | |
| Excluding construction1 | ||||||||||||||
| Germany excluding construction8 | 20.5 | 22 | 25.3 | 28.2 | 27.2 | 28.4 | 32.1 | 34.2 | 35.4 | 36.8 | 39.2 | 43.8 | 42.7 | |
| SMEs, Germany excluding construction | 21.5 | 22.9 | 25.8 | 28.7 | 28 | 28.5 | 32.3 | 34.9 | 34.7 | 36.6 | 39.5 | 42.9 | 42 | |
| Large enterprises, Germany excluding construction | 18.4 | 20.3 | 24.3 | 27.1 | 25.6 | 28.1 | 31.6 | 32.9 | 36.7 | 37.1 | 38.5 | 45.5 | 44.2 | |
| Bavaria excluding construction | 20.6 | 22.5 | 23.7 | 27.2 | 26.5 | 29.3 | 31.1 | 33.2 | 34.5 | 38 | 38.1 | 45.7 | 45.5 | |
| Baden-Württemberg excluding construction | 19 | 18.4 | 21 | 26.3 | 24.9 | 25.7 | 28.1 | 33.5 | 32.4 | 33.8 | 38.4 | 40.3 | 41.6 | |
| Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland excluding construction | 16.6 | 18.9 | 22.6 | 25.9 | 25.7 | 26.7 | 33.8 | 32.6 | 32.2 | 34.2 | 38.2 | 39.6 | 36.2 | |
| North Rhine-Westphalia excluding construction | 21 | 22 | 25 | 25.6 | 27.1 | 25.8 | 30.3 | 32.6 | 32.1 | 31.8 | 37.4 | 41.6 | 37.8 | |
| Eastern Germany excluding construction | 22.3 | 24.9 | 29 | 33.7 | 31.4 | 29.7 | 36.2 | 39.4 | 41.1 | 43.8 | 45.2 | 48.1 | 49.7 | |
| Northern Germany excluding construction | 22.9 | 24.6 | 30.4 | 31 | 27.7 | 32.3 | 34.3 | 33.3 | 37.6 | 34.9 | 33.7 | 41.5 | 41.9 | |
| Share of firms hampered: by industry and firm size4 | ||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing2 | ||||||||||||||
| SMEs | 18.1 | 20.6 | 20.9 | 22.6 | 22.1 | 21.5 | 24.4 | 30.2 | 27.4 | 32.4 | 34 | 38.6 | 38.6 | |
| Large enterprises | 8 | 10.2 | 11.4 | 14.2 | 12.1 | 12.3 | 15.1 | 18.5 | 21.3 | 22.4 | 20.9 | 28.9 | 30.3 | |
| Trade2 | ||||||||||||||
| SMEs | 16.1 | 17.3 | 20.6 | 22.1 | 22.9 | 21.8 | 27.1 | 25.4 | 27 | 28.2 | 31.9 | 31.1 | 33.8 | |
| Large enterprises | 15.6 | 20.8 | 25.8 | 28.5 | 26.3 | 25 | 30.1 | 31.8 | 30.9 | 29.2 | 34.6 | 35.7 | 37.4 | |
| Services2 | ||||||||||||||
| SMEs | 24.8 | 25.7 | 30 | 33.9 | 32.7 | 34.3 | 38.3 | 40 | 40.9 | 41.3 | 44.6 | 48.4 | 46.1 | |
| Large enterprises | 25.3 | 26.2 | 31.5 | 34.3 | 33.4 | 38.1 | 41.6 | 41.6 | 47.2 | 47.7 | 49.9 | 57.7 | 54.1 |
Latest reading
The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q4 2010 to Q2 2026. Source: Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Eurostat and KfW Research / ifo Institute.
About this data
Germany job vacancies and labour shortage, including vacancy rates from the IAB, Eurostat and KfW. The quarterly data covers registration and vacancy rates, plus the share of hampered firms, broken down by industry, region, establishment size and required qualifications. The series begin in 1991 and are published by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Eurostat, KfW Research and the ifo Institute.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the latest figure for Germany job vacancies and labour shortage?
- The latest reading is 1,023.4 thousands, for Q2 2026. That is −11.3% from Q1 2026 and −3.3% from a year earlier.
- Is Germany job vacancies and labour shortage at a high or a low right now?
- The reading of 1,023.4 thousands is the lowest since Q3 2020.
- How far back does the Germany job vacancies and labour shortage data go?
- The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q4 2010 to Q2 2026. Source: Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Eurostat and KfW Research / ifo Institute. Every series in the table can be charted over its full history and downloaded as CSV or Excel.
- What do the Germany job vacancy statistics measure?
- The statistics measure the total number of open positions in Germany, the job vacancy rate by industry, and the share of businesses hampered by a shortage of skilled labour.
- Which breakdowns are available for the German labour shortage data?
- Job vacancies and labour shortages are broken down by industry, region, establishment size and the level of qualification required for the position.
- Where does the Germany job vacancy data come from?
- The data are sourced from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) establishment survey, Eurostat's job vacancy statistics and the KfW-ifo Skilled Labour Barometer.