At the beginning of the second quarter, a shortage of skilled workers hindered the business activities of 21% of companies. As a result, the shortage of skilled labour has eased further due to the weak economic environment. The decline is most pronounced in the manufacturing sector, where the drop in demand has been strongest. Here, only 17% of companies still report constraints caused by a lack of skilled workers. In the services sector, 30% of companies currently complain about missing skilled staff, also fewer than in the previous quarter.

KfW-ifo Skilled Labour Barometer June 2026(PDF, 340 KB, accessible)

Press release