What jobs are in high demand in Germany in 2020?

Germany has the fifth largest economy in the world and is a top destination for those who want to work overseas.

The good news is that Germany has a lot of job opportunities and is also facing a skills shortage as per recent reports. By 2030 Germany is expected to have a skills shortage of at least 3 million workers. This trend is expected to continue in 2020 and beyond. So, what are the jobs that will be in high demand in Germany in 2020?

Fortunately, the number of jobs available in Germany has seen an increase by over 1.2 million since 2014. This trend is expected to continue in 2020 and beyond. This means better job opportunities for overseas workers as well.

The top jobs of 2020 are expected in the STEM field and health-related occupations. Top jobs will be in the engineering, mechanical, electrical and IT fields. The healthcare sector will see more demand for nurses and caregivers, owing to the increase in the aging population in the country. Most job openings are expected in Southern and Eastern Germany.

According to CEDEFOP, European Center for the Development of Vocational Training, which created a Skills Forecast for Germany up to 2025, employment growth is expected to be in business and other services. The report says around 25% of the job opportunities will be for professionals and the job opportunities will be for high-level professionals.

 The report says that the future employment growth up to 2025 will be in business and service sectors.

Employment trends by sector, average annual growth rate, 2003-25, Germany (%)

Source: Cedefop skills forecasts (2015):

The job opportunities in Germany in 2020 and beyond will be a combination of newly created jobs and the need to replace those who leave due to retirement or move on to other jobs. In fact, one major reason for the skill shortage in Germany is an aging population.

The top jobs that are expected to be in demand in 2020 will be for professionals in science, engineering, business, healthcare, and teaching. 25% of jobs are expected to be for high-level professionals in these fields. 17% of jobs are expected to be for technicians while 14% of jobs are expected to be open for clerical support professionals according to the CEDEFOP report.

Here is a detailed account of the jobs that will be in demand in 2020.

 Medical professionals:

Germany is expected to have a shortage of medical professionals in the coming years. Individuals with a foreign degree in medicine can move to the country and get a license to practice medicine here. Applicants from both EU and non-Eu countries can obtain a license to practice in Germany. But their degree must be equal to the medical qualification in Germany.

Engineering professions:

The following fields in engineering are expected to have a high number of vacancies. A university degree in any of these engineering fields will have good career prospects:

• Structural engineering
• Computer science engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Automotive engineering
• Telecommunications

There will be job opportunities in technical research and development, software development and programming and IT application consulting.

Job opportunities in MINT – Mathematics, Information technology, Natural sciences, and Technology

Individuals with degrees in mathematics, information technology, natural sciences, and technology (MINT) will have job opportunities in the private sector and research institutes.

 Jobs in non-specialized areas:

In 2020 there will also be job opportunities in Germany that do not require specialized qualifications. The following occupations will be in demand in the non-specialized category:

Industrial mechanics: 

There will be job openings in machine engineering, industrial mechanics, and operational technology. Sometimes you might have to do an apprenticeship of one year for these occupations before getting a full-time job.

Retail Salespersons:

With the growth in the retail sector, there are plenty of job opportunities for foreigners. There is a demand for trained retail sales professionals and sales assistants. The prime qualification for these jobs is to understand what the customer wants and improve sales. Foreigners can opt for a two to a three-year apprenticeship after which they can be offered a contract for permanent work.

Nurses and eldercare professionals:

There have been an increase in demand for such professionals who have completed the required training. There will be opportunities in the field of healthcare, emergency medical services, elderly care and obstetrics.

Germany is expected to have several job openings in various fields in 2020 and beyond. If you are qualified for any of the jobs described above, then you can try your luck and look for a job in Germany.