In June 2008 the number of vacancies for engineers was once again enormous: about 95.500 jobs could not be staffed. This is an increase by 100 percent as compared to the year 2004, reports the Association of German Engineers (VDI). At the same time the number of unemployed engineers has decreased and amounted to 21.000 people in June 2008 which is ten percent less as compared to June 2007.
Dr. Willi Fuchs, chairman of the VDI, does not expect a sharp decline of vacancies for engineers. He warns: “Germany is still suffering from a huge lack of specialists.” Some Federal Landers are more affected by this than others: In Schleswig-Holstein the number of vacancies almost doubled in July 2008 as compared to the previous month, whereas in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania this number fell by almost 20% over the same period. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the lack of specialists is particularly striking. In these three Landers alone the VDI registered about 55.000 vacancies for engineers of any specialization. 