According to Statista, there are 770,301 job vacancies in Germany. There were almost twice as many jobs in 2022 as there were in 2011. Germany, which faces an aging population with an average age of 45 years and a low birth rate of 1.53 children per woman, has long relied on foreign workers, keep the economy running.
Foreigners who aim to live and work in Germany can benefit from this labour shortage and start the procedures of getting a work visa for Germany. The fields that need the most skilled workers are as follows:
- Livestock farming
- Forestry
- Horticulture
- Tyre and vulcanisation technology
- Wood, furnishing, 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)
- Sales
- System catering
- Pharmaceutical technical assistants
- Bus and tram drivers
According to the Economic Research Institute (ERI), the average pay for crop farm workers is €35,616 a year and €17 per hour, and for forestry technicians, it is €36,791 a year and 18€ per hour. Whereas for horticultural specialty growers is €36,913 a year and €18 per hour, for construction workers €44,052 a year and €21 per hour and for drivers is €28,276 and €14 per hour, etc.
On the other hand, the highest paying jobs in Germany and the average salaries per year are as follows:
- 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)
In order to work in Germany, non-German citizens may need a visa. However, nationals of any of the member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the European Free Trade Association are available to work in Germany without a visa. While nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, USA, and South Korea can enter the country with a passport but they must apply for a residence permit upon their arrival.
According to the EURES report, 29 European countries are experiencing labour shortages, whereas 24 countries have surplus labour. Occupations facing shortages mainly include professions in software, healthcare, construction, and engineering craft.
Conversely, occupations in surplus labour include clerical-related roles, elementary occupations, and professional occupations in the humanities and arts.