First and second place still go to electronics technicians and healthcare and nursing professionals. They were almost tied this year. This means electronics technicians have retained their top position for the third year in a row. Job prospects are good, as various analyses indicate there are shortages in particular in construction electronics. Electronic technicians are more in demand in order to implement the energy transformation and to build new housing.
Overall ranking
The top 10 professions
Specialists and laborers urgently needed
The list of the top ten most sought-after professions makes clear: we are experiencing a lack of skilled workers and laborers in general. Four of the ten positions are jobs for which even semi-skilled workers or workers from other professional fields can apply. In addition to production assistants, employers are looking for a large number of personnel in warehouse logistics. None of the analyses since the report began in 2008 have showed so many available jobs among the top-ranking professions as this one does.
Top 10
The 10 most sought-after professions
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Software developers and programmers, in particular, can choose from a wide range of open positions in the IT field. They are at 5th place for the third year in a row. Specialists who can develop and program software have outstanding job prospects, despite the fact that their share of total ads has dropped for the third year in a row. By way of comparison: The career took the top spot in 2018. Many industries rely on the expertise of software developers. However, they are not immune to change. Developments in artificial intelligence or low code platforms will change the profession, but certainly not replace it.
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Social workers and social education specialists are newcomers among the top spots. This profession made an impressive jump from 20th to fourth place. For the fourth year in a row, their share of the overall sample grew, actually doubling compared to the previous year. The expertise offered by social workers and social education specialists is essential in many areas, for instance for social work in schools or to support refugee integration. This profession is experiencing the greatest shortage of trained professionals. We will have to wait and see whether it can maintain its current position, or whether this leap is a one-time effect.
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Electrical engineers can work in different industries – similar to software developers. They have returned to the top ten professions for the first time since 2017. Within engineering, one in three positions is in the electrical engineering area (32.9 %). A variety of factors are aggravating the shortfall in this professional field, such as increasing demand for electric mobility experts or automation in industry. These are not expected to let up: A 2022 survey of members of the industry association VDMA showed that machine and plant manufacturers are planning to hire almost as many engineers in electrical engineering/IT as in mechanical engineering/process engineering by 2025 (71 and 73 %, respectively).
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Whether the high percentage of ads for salespeople is due to the recovery of retail after the coronavirus pandemic is questionable. They were in 33rd place last year, and were among the top ten careers for the first time. At that time, this position was the result of a special effect. However, semi-skilled salespersons will enjoy one specific effect: More and more retailers are prepared to train motivated individuals looking to start a new career, in light of a lack of trained salespersons.
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The demand for workers in warehouse logistics has increased once again – despite the ability to automate and digitize many work steps. Job seekers with a forklift driver’s license and warehouse and transportation workers are among the most sought-after candidates once again this year. Ads for pickers are new among the top spots. By way of comparison: Last year, such ads were down at 28th place in the overall rankings.