Germany Faces Growing Shortage of Skilled Workers in Key Energy Transition Roles

A new study highlights critical gaps in the workforce needed for renewable energy projects, threatening progress on the nation's energy goals.

A study by the German Economic Institute's Competence Center for Securing Skilled Labor reveals increasing shortages in energy transition-related professions, such as electrical and renewable energy technicians.
The largest gaps are in construction electricians, with over 18,300 unfilled positions in 2024, a 2.9% increase compared to 2023, critical for installing solar panels and wind turbines.
Other areas with significant shortages include electrical operation technicians (14,200 unfilled jobs, up 10%) and electrotechnical engineers (8,500 unfilled jobs), impacting infrastructure like EV charging stations and renewable energy grid integration.
Energy companies like Eon are ramping up hiring efforts, adding over 2,000 workers in Germany last year, while emphasizing internal training to address the lack of specialized skills in the labor market.
The broader German labor market saw some improvement, with a 14.6% decrease in overall unfilled positions in 2024, but sectors like healthcare and childcare remain heavily affected by workforce shortages.