Highly Suitable Career Opportunities for Job Seekers - Candidates in these specific professions appear to have promising career opportunities.
In the heart of Germany, the region of Thuringia is grappling with a significant shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the transport and logistics sector. According to a report by the regional office of the Federal Employment Agency, there were 2,024 shortages in filling open positions across 22 occupational groups in 2024[1].
Among the most affected professions are truck drivers, with the number of drivers in Thuringia decreasing from 18.3 thousand to 16.9 thousand over the last four years[1]. This shortage is critical as Thuringia has become a major logistics hub, hosting companies like Zalando and KNV, increasing demand for drivers.
The aging driver workforce is a significant factor contributing to this shortage. The share of drivers over 55 has increased from 23% to 28%, with many drivers approaching retirement[1]. The pipeline of new drivers is insufficient to replace them, a problem not unique to Thuringia but affecting all of Germany and several European countries.
Other professions experiencing shortages include mechatronics, automation technology, energy technology, construction planning, and manufacturing industry jobs such as metalworking, the production of plastics and rubber, and production control[1]. Security professions and certain sales professions are also affected. The hospitality and food retail sectors are not left untouched by this trend.
Despite rising unemployment, companies often find it challenging to fill their vacant positions[1]. Only six percent of the unemployed in Thuringia are looking for employment in a shortage profession[1]. The baby boomers' anticipated retirement is expected to continue this trend.
While the situation in the fields of information technology, construction machinery operators, corporate organization, and certain sales professions has slightly improved, the logistics and transport sector, especially truck drivers, remains the key shortage profession in Thuringia. Addressing recruitment and retention issues in these sectors is crucial to sustaining the regional economy.
[1] Source: Regional office of the Federal Employment Agency report, 2024.
In light of the critical driver shortage in Thuringia, the region's policy should prioritize vocational training in education-and-self-development, career-development, and skills-training programs for vocational training, given the insufficiency of new drivers to replace the aging workforce. To combat this, vocational training, particularly for truck drivers, should be emphasized in the community's development plan to sustain the regional economy, especially since Thuringia hosts logistics hubs like Zalando and KNV and faces a significant shortage in multiple other occupations such as mechatronics, automation technology, and construction planning.
