Germany Faces Urgent Demand for over 770,000 Foreign Workers in these 20 Jobs in 2024.
- December 27, 2023
- 625
The alarming 770,301 available vacancies indicate that Germany is now facing a serious labor crisis. Based on this figure, there are nearly twice as many available positions as there were in 2011.
Germany needs to rely more and more on immigrant labor to sustain its booming economy due to its low birth rate of 1.53 per woman and average population age of 45.
Immigration Regulations
Germany has consistently updated its immigration regulations throughout the years to accommodate the nation's shifting workforce needs. The intention is to facilitate the process of employment entry for refugees and foreign workers.
Several industries still have job openings that are still open to foreign nationals with the required skills or expertise, notwithstanding these legislative modifications.
Opportunities for Foreign Workers
In order to benefit from this labor shortage, foreign nationals who want to live and work in Germany should begin the process of applying for a work visa.
The demand for skilled workers is in the following fields:
- Livestock farming
- Forestry
- Horticulture
- Tyre and vulcanization technology
- Wood, furnishing, and interior fitting
- Metalworking
- Automation
- Surveying, scaffolding
- Interior construction and dry walling
- Glazing
- Pipeline construction
- Plant, container, and apparatus construction
- Monitoring and maintenance of railway infrastructure
- Freight forwarding and logistics
- Drivers for earthmoving and related machinery
- Sales (furniture, fittings)
- System catering
- Pharmaceutical technical assistants
- Bus and tram drivers
Pay in Fields with High Demand
The Economic Research Institute (ERI) data demonstrates that the remuneration for various in-demand vocations varies.
For example:
- Crop farm laborers usually earn €17 per hour, or €35,616 annually.
- Technicians in forestry are paid €18 per hour and €36,791 per year.
- Horticultural specialty producers earn €36,913 a year, or €18 per hour.
- An annual salary of €44,052 and an hourly wage of €21 are demanded of construction workers.
- Drivers are paid €14 per hour and €28,276 per year.
Highest-Paying Professions in Germany
The other highest-paying jobs in Germany and their average annual salaries include:
- Doctor (€71,600–€101,696)
- Pilot (€93,499)
- Sales manager (€82,392)
- Lawyer (€81,254)
- Portfolio manager (€80,000 to €120,000)
- College professor (€74,200)
- Engineering (€63,000)
- Software developer (€45,000 to €80,000)
- Project manager (€45,000 to €90,000)
- Risk manager (€70,000–€85,000)
- Judge (€76,619)
- Tax advisor (€70,000)
Qualifications and Eligibility for Visas
For non-German nationals seeking employment in Germany, obtaining a visa may be necessary. However, citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the European Free Trade Association are not required to have a visa in order to work in Germany. Similarly, holders of passports from South Korea, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA are permitted entry into the country, although they must apply for a resident visa upon arrival.
Currently, there is a labor surplus in 24 European countries and a labor shortage in 29 of them. The industries with the biggest shortages include engineering, construction, software development, and healthcare. Conversely, jobs in the humanities and arts, elementary school jobs, and those involving secretarial duties are among the jobs with excess labor.
The size of families, the location, and the cities are some factors that influence Germany's cost of living. Recent data indicates that an individual's expected monthly expenses, excluding rent, are €967.6. The anticipated monthly expenses for a household of four rise to €3319.8. While an apartment outside of the city center is predicted to rent for €626.01, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is anticipated to rent for €819.63. The cost of renting varies. A three-bedroom apartment in the city center is expected to cost €1705.58, while an equivalent home outside the city center would cost €1162.59.