German engineer unemployment hits highest level since 2011

Unemployment among engineers and IT professionals in Germany surged to its highest point since 2011 in the fourth quarter of 2025, with nearly 58,400 individuals jobless. This marks a significant increase, even as the number of open positions, though down 18% from the previous year, remains substantial at 97,000.

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While some areas are currently suffering significantly more from the economic weakness, there are still bottlenecks in other specializations.

The Association of German Engineers (VDI) attributes this trend to a cautious economic climate, leading companies to scale back investments and hiring. VDI Director Adrian Willig noted that while some sectors are heavily impacted by the economic downturn, others continue to face shortages of skilled workers. The rise in unemployment was particularly pronounced in technical research and production control roles, with a more moderate increase in civil engineering.

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It is important not to conclude from the unemployment figures that Germany will need fewer technical specialists in the future. On the contrary: the modernization of infrastructure, the transformation of the energy supply, digitalization and new technologies will shape the demand for qualified engineers in the long term.

Despite the current rise in unemployment, the VDI stressed that Germany's long-term need for technical specialists remains high. Factors such as infrastructure modernization, the energy transition, and digitalization will continue to drive demand for qualified engineers. The VDI also highlighted the crucial role of immigration in sustaining employment, stating that without it, employment growth between 2012 and 2025 would have been significantly lower. The organization also pointed to the growing participation of women in engineering and IT fields as a key factor.

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This makes it clear that securing skilled labor in recent years would have been considerably more difficult without immigration.