Even the Most Stable IT and Engineering Jobs Face Layoffs? Germany's Largest Unemployment Surge in 15 Years, Engineers' Association Stresses 'Long-Term Demand Remains'

A joint report released by the German Engineers Association (VDI) and the German Economic Institute (IW) shows that Germany's economic slowdown is impacting the labor market for engineers and IT professionals. The economic downturn is affecting employment in Germany's engineering and IT sectors. According to the 'Engineering Monitoring Report,' jointly compiled on a regular basis by the German Engineers Association (VDI) and the German Economic Institute (IW), 58,392 engineers and IT specialists were unemployed in Germany in the fourth quarter of 2025. This is the highest number since the survey began in 2011. Compared to the previous year, the unemployment rate increased by 16.7%. At the same time, the number of job vacancies in engineering and IT stood at 96,780, an 18.2% decrease from the same period the previous year. However, there are significant differences in vacancy trends across occupational fields. Vacancies in civil engineering declined by only 3.8%, while IT sector vacancies dropped by 33.0%. The report notes: 'The decline in job vacancies is particularly pronounced in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where the automotive manufacturing industry—especially hard-hit by the economic downturn—plays a major role in the economy.' Long-Term Demand Remains The German Engineers Association (VDI) emphasized that these figures should not be interpreted as a sign of decreasing future demand for technical experts in Germany. 'In the long term, qualified engineers will continue to be needed for infrastructure modernization, energy supply transformation, digitalization, and the development of new technologies,' explained Adrian Willig, head of the association. The VDI also stressed the importance of cultivating the next generation of engineers and attracting more women to the engineering field to ensure a steady supply of skilled workers. Willig warned, 'If we slack off now in attracting young talent, training, and securing technical workers, we will face a shortage of urgently needed specialists when the economy recovers.' DW Chinese has an Instagram account! Search for dw.chinese to see more easy-to-understand graphics and video reports. © 2026 Deutsche Welle Copyright: All content is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use without special permission from Deutsche Welle is prohibited. Any improper use will result in compensation claims and criminal prosecution.