There is a shortage of almost 300,000 workers in MINT professions – both academics and skilled workers. And the need will continue to grow. This emerges from the IW’s new MINT autumn report.
Germany still lacks important workers. This emerges from the MINT autumn report of the German Economic Institute IW, which… ARD capital studio available exclusively. According to the current report, there is a shortage of 285,800 workers in the so-called MINT professions – the abbreviation stands for mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. These include 132,100 skilled worker positions that cannot be filled and 122,300 positions for MINT experts. These are usually university graduates.
Compared to the record value from September 2018, the so-called MINT gap has fallen by around 15.5 percent. However, it is still the fourth highest September value since records began.
According to the study authors, the slight decline in demand for workers in MINT professions is also due to the weaker economy in Germany. The IW study states that the economic slump is also noticeable in the development of vacancies and unemployed people in MINT professions, “albeit to a surprisingly small extent”. This means that a large MINT gap would continue to exist.
Energy and electrical professions with the largest gaps
The study sees the greatest need for workers by sector in the energy and electrical professions. There is currently a shortage of around 81,900 skilled workers here. There will be no change in labor requirements in the medium and long term either. This will even “increase sharply”. At the same time, a sharp decline in young MINT talent is expected in the coming years. The working conditions in the relevant professions therefore continue to be very good.
The average monthly gross income of a full-time MINT academic was 5,900 euros in 2021, which is above the academic average. MINT academics are also more likely to be employed in management positions than other academics, with a share of 35 percent.
Demographic development is also a factor
The study authors see a significantly increasing need for skilled workers in the future. IT experts are particularly important for the development of climate-friendly technologies and products in the next five years. The annual demand for MINT workers is also increasing for demographic reasons.
Currently, around 64,800 MINT academics leave their jobs every year and need to be filled. In five years this need will increase to 74,100 people annually. In the case of MINT skilled workers, around 272,000 skilled workers would have to be replaced annually in five years. Overall, the so-called annual demographic “replacement demand for MINT workers” will increase by 21,500 people in five years.
The prospect that a significant decline in “domestic young talent” is to be expected is problematic. The number of new students in MINT subjects fell from 2016 to 2022 from 198,000 new students to just 176,300. The study authors assume that this trend will continue. What is particularly worrying for the coming years is that students’ mathematics skills have declined significantly. This could have a negative impact on the potential of new students in the MINT subjects.
Attracting more women and immigrants to MINT careers
In addition to describing the problem, the study authors also suggest possible solutions. It is important to attract more women to MINT careers. For example, it would be helpful to establish better feedback systems in schools so that “girls and young women can better recognize their existing MINT strengths.”
It is also necessary to tap into the potential of immigration. To achieve this, the opportunities offered by the new Skilled Immigration Act should be better utilized “by significantly speeding up the bureaucratic processes.” In order to expand immigration through the education system, capacities should be further strengthened and programs to support and provide financial support for educational participants from abroad should be expanded.
But the education system in general also needs to be improved. To this end, the authors suggest strengthening early childhood education, expanding high-quality all-day offerings and providing means for the individual support of children and young people via a “social index”.