Whether it is an electrical or computer engineer, a civil engineer or a building technology engineer, anyone who is looking for Germany Working in this industry has many options. In the last quarter of 2021, there were 387 vacancies per 100 job seekers, and 471 vacancies a year later, an increase of almost 22%.

At the end of 2022, there were a total of 170,300 engineering vacancies in Germany. The Association of German Engineers (VDI) warns that there is a shortage of workers everywhere and that this situation is precarious as government construction projects are halted or cannot even start and digitization projects remain stagnant.

For decades, Germany has been known as the country of engineers and is highly recognized worldwide for its know-how. “In Germany, we really lived off good human resources, that was our strength,” says engineer Dieter Westerkamp, ​​head of technology and society at VDI. Today, however, there are more retirees and fewer students in the industry. However, there are many who believe that there is no shortage of skilled workers.

Fewer students in mechanical engineering

In the main courses provided for students of mechanical engineering, the number of first-year students has been significantly reduced. “Therefore, a significant reduction in the number of graduates is expected in the coming years,” says economist Axel Plunecke from the German Economic Institute in Cologne. However, at the same time, there is a growing need for engineers, especially in the field of environmentally friendly technologies and products. Research by the German Economic Institute shows that in the future, 43% of companies will need more engineers and 63% more IT specialists.

Dieter Westerkamp warns that the industry is closely monitoring this shortage. “We hear from the industry that the lack of qualified staff is a situation that we cannot do anything about, it just exists.” But this eliminates a key argument in favor of Germany. “If you keep this situation in mind and know that things are different in other countries, it will be difficult to convince the industrial sector to invest in the country in the future, and this will be fatal,” he adds. Ultimately, the prosperity of the country is at stake.

He argues that the only solution to this problem is to import skilled workers from abroad. Over the past decade, there has been a 126.5% increase in the number of foreign engineering workers. But this is not enough. The political leadership has recognized the problem and now wants to push for immigration reform.

Dieter Westerkamp emphasizes that VDI welcomes this strategy and hopes that it will be implemented, otherwise Germany is heading in the wrong direction. The German engineer highlights the red tape that currently exists when an entrepreneur wants to hire someone from abroad. The process could take months, he said, and the country currently cannot afford it.

Bureaucracy holding back workers from abroad

On the other hand, economist Plunecke is calling for more digitalization and more employees in relevant services, as he says the authorities are creating bottlenecks in this strategy due to long delays. An important factor in solving the problem are German universities, because they offer many opportunities for immigrating and studying one of the engineering professions. Until the pandemic broke out, more and more students from abroad came to study here.

It is difficult to keep foreign graduates in Germany after graduation, as half of them leave immediately after their studies, “and take the knowledge gained here with them,” says Dieter Westerkamp. The Engineer says you need to take care of the people you conquered. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the Association of German Engineers (VDI) is participating in a pilot program where members of the association help foreign colleagues as a kind of mentors in work, as well as in the social part.

In addition, targeted training and development packages are planned that will “build bridges to the technologies of the future.” It is also important to create “international communities”, that is, networks in companies and regions, through which it will be easier to attract engineering immigrants. Dieter Westerkamp believes that society must develop a culture of acceptance of these people, otherwise there will be difficulties with the quality of life in Germany in the future.