Every 26th position is unfilled

The number of unfilled positions in Germany remains high. Current figures show that a total of ~1.75 million jobs are unfilled [1], twice as many as 10 years ago. Relative to the total workforce of 45.7 million, the current figure means that one in 26 jobs remains unfilled.

From 2019 to 2030, the labor force is expected to shrink by another 2 million [2]. I.e. sooner or later the proportion of unfilled jobs will double.

Many companies have employees who have been working for 15 to 20 years. If a company tries to improve diversity with younger talent that brings current IT knowledge, competition will increase even more.

So, what are the options?

• Employee Retention: If you want employees with high intrinsic motivation, an entrepreneurial spirit and the highest level of integrity, invest in your employees in the form of a positive culture, training and individual development opportunities. And invest in the leaders. Give them all the right tools.
• move work to people: Redesign workplaces to support part-time and remote work, or go abroad (if possible and appropriate)
• drive productivity: Harvest possible gains in productivity by boosting a positive culture (+18%) [3], use technology (digitalization & auztomation), update people skills, Innovation
• focus: say goodby to things, processes, declining markets to focus on what counts

[1] Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung der Bundesagentur für Arbeit

[2] Statistisches Bundesamt

[3] Gallup