- The Federal Employment Agency counted 157 shortage occupations for 2025, six fewer than the year before.
- Nursing and healthcare are hit hardest, followed by construction and skilled trades, cooks, professional drivers and childcare.
- Software development and IT sales are no longer on the shortage list, so IT competition is higher than a few years ago.
- Foreign workers now make up about 14% of employees in shortage occupations, double the 2014 share.
"Which jobs are in demand in Germany?" is one of the most searched questions from India, and most answers online are guesses. The best source is the official shortage analysis of the Federal Employment Agency, published every year. Here is what the latest one says, and what it means for you.
Where the shortages are biggest
- Nursing and healthcare: still the strongest shortages in Germany.
- Construction and skilled trades: electricians, plumbing, heating and similar trades.
- Cooks and professional drivers.
- Childcare: early childhood educators.
- New on the list: surveying technology and social work.
Source: Federal Employment Agency, September 2026.
What changed for IT
Software development and IT sales are no longer counted as shortage occupations. That doesn't mean there are no IT jobs: Germany still hires many developers, data engineers and SAP consultants, and IT still uses the lower EU Blue Card threshold. It means more candidates per job, so your CV, targeting and networking matter more. Read my IT jobs guide.
Foreign workers are already essential
In shortage occupations, the share of foreign employees doubled from about 7% in 2014 to about 14%. In care alone, the number of German employees fell by 5,000 compared with June 2024, while foreign employees rose by 46,000.
What this means for you
- If you work in healthcare, Germany needs you, but plan for recognition and B2 German: nursing guide.
- If you are in a trade or want a fresh start, look at Ausbildung.
- If you are in IT, engineering or business, expect competition and use a strategy: 90 day plan.
Common questions
Is IT still in demand in Germany?
Yes, many IT roles are open, but software development is no longer on the official shortage list, so competition is higher than before.
Which field has the biggest shortage?
Nursing and healthcare, according to the Federal Employment Agency's 2026 analysis.
Does a shortage occupation make the visa easier?
For the EU Blue Card, shortage occupations use a lower salary threshold, €45,934.20 a year in 2026.
SALARY to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.