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Ranking German States by Their Need for Workers and the Likelihood of Finding a Job: Updated Guide for 2025
Germany is one of the leading destinations for work and migration in Europe. At the same time, several federal states are facing a shortage of skilled labour across a wide range of sectors. In this article, we present an approximate ranking of the German states according to their demand for workers and the overall chances of finding a job in 2025. We also provide indicative figures for the number of job vacancies and highlight the main sectors and specialisations in each state.
This information is based on the latest statistics and official forecasts from the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), alongside findings from recent economic studies.
1. Bavaria (Bayern)
Rank: 1st in terms of labour demand
Why?
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Large industrial and technology sector: Major companies such as BMW, Audi and Siemens are located in Munich, Ingolstadt and other cities.
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Tourism: The Alps and historic cities like Nuremberg attract millions of tourists every year, creating high demand for staff in hotels and restaurants.
Estimated number of vacancies:
More than 250,000 open positions per year across various sectors.
Key fields and sectors:
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Mechanical engineering and automotive engineering
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Information technology and software development
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Healthcare and nursing
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Hospitality and tourism
Chance of finding a job:
Extremely high, especially for people with technical qualifications and medical or nursing backgrounds.
2. Baden-Württemberg
Rank: 2nd
Why?
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Automotive sector: Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and hundreds of medium-sized companies (Mittelstand) specialising in engineering and machinery.
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Research and development: Cities like Stuttgart and Karlsruhe are among the most important innovation hubs in Germany.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 220,000 jobs per year, especially in the industrial sector.
Key fields and sectors:
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Automotive engineering and engine design
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High-precision manufacturing, robotics and automation
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Medicine and healthcare
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Information technology and programming
Chance of finding a job:
Very high, particularly for engineers, technicians and specialists in mechanical and electrical maintenance.
3. Hesse (Hessen)
Rank: 3rd
Why?
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Financial centre in Frankfurt: A major financial hub creating strong demand in banking and insurance.
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Services and logistics sector: Frankfurt is a key international hub for air traffic and rail transport.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Approximately 150,000 positions in different fields.
Key fields and sectors:
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Finance, accounting and banking
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Management consulting and insurance
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Information technology (especially FinTech)
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Logistics, freight and supply chain management
Chance of finding a job:
High, particularly for professionals in finance, accounting, IT and financial technology.
4. North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
Rank: 4th
Why?
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Germany’s most populous state: The Ruhr area and numerous cities provide a broad industrial base (formerly coal and steel), now transitioning towards advanced services and renewable energy.
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Media hubs: Cologne and Düsseldorf are important centres for TV, broadcasting and media production.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Up to 200,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Industrial and chemical engineering
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Renewable energy and environmental technology
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Media and TV/film production
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Marketing, sales and commerce
Chance of finding a job:
From medium to high, depending on qualifications, industry and region. In high-demand technical fields, prospects are very good.
5. Hamburg
Rank: 5th
Why?
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Port of Hamburg: One of Europe’s largest seaports, making logistics and transport crucial sectors.
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Services and media: Headquarters of many publishing houses, advertising agencies and media firms.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 100,000 vacancies per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Logistics, shipping and maritime services
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Media, journalism and advertising
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Tourism, hotels and hospitality
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International trade and commerce
Chance of finding a job:
Relatively high, especially in logistics, shipping, media and international trade.
6. Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
Rank: 6th
Why?
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Automotive industry: Headquarters and major plants of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg.
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Strong agricultural and food industries.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Roughly 90,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Automotive industry and suppliers
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Agriculture and food processing
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Logistics, transport and distribution
Chance of finding a job:
Medium, with better prospects in industrial centres like Wolfsburg and Hanover.
7. Berlin
Rank: 7th
Why?
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Political capital and start-up hub: Many new companies in the tech and digital sectors.
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Boom in tourism and hospitality.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 80,000 positions per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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IT, programming and web development
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Digital marketing, creative industries and design
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Hospitality, gastronomy and tourism
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Public administration and government-related services
Chance of finding a job:
Medium; competition is strong, but there is a large and dynamic market for skilled tech and creative professionals.
8. Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)
Rank: 8th
Why?
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Wine production and agriculture: Strong wine regions along the Rhine.
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Industrial and technological sites: Various locations with mechanical engineering, chemistry and other industries.
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Construction and real estate: Growing construction and development projects in cities like Mainz and Koblenz.
Estimated number of vacancies:
About 60,000 vacancies per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Agricultural engineering and food industries
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Logistics and cross-border trade
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Medicine, healthcare and university hospitals
Chance of finding a job:
Medium; varies significantly between larger cities and rural regions.
9. Saxony (Sachsen)
Rank: 9th
Why?
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“Silicon Saxony” in Dresden: Important centre for semiconductor technology and microelectronics.
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Automobile manufacturing: BMW and Volkswagen plants in Zwickau and Leipzig.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 55,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Mechanical and electrical engineering, mechatronics
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Semiconductor technology and microelectronics
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Tourism, culture and events (Dresden, Leipzig)
Chance of finding a job:
Medium to high, particularly for applicants with technical qualifications.
10. Schleswig-Holstein
Rank: 10th
Why?
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Coastal tourism: Holiday resorts along the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
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Ports and maritime industry.
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Growing importance of renewable energy (especially wind power).
Estimated number of vacancies:
Approximately 45,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Hospitality, hotels and tourism
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Renewable energy and environmental technologies
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Agriculture and fisheries
Chance of finding a job:
Medium – particularly good during the tourism season and in green energy projects.
11. Brandenburg
Rank: 11th
Why?
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Proximity to Berlin: Creates jobs in transport, logistics and supplier industries.
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Expansion of solar and wind energy.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 40,000 positions per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Transport and logistics
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Green energy and related technologies
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Agriculture, rural services and forestry
Chance of finding a job:
Medium, with improving prospects in the growing metropolitan region around Berlin.
12. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
Rank: 12th
Why?
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Coastal tourism on the Baltic Sea: Many seaside resorts and holiday regions.
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Limited but existing agricultural and maritime projects.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Roughly 30,000 positions per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Tourism, hotels, restaurants and catering
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Agriculture and fishing
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Health services in tourist-oriented cities
Chance of finding a job:
Medium – generally better during the high tourism season.
13. Saarland
Rank: 13th
Why?
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Border location with France: Facilitates cross-border trade and services.
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Metal and mechanical industries: Some sectors of the traditional heavy industry remain active.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 25,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Cross-border trade and services
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Mechanical engineering, metal industry and automotive suppliers
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Logistics and transport services
Chance of finding a job:
Medium, especially favourable for German–French speakers and for professionals in industrial and logistics occupations.
14. Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
Rank: 14th
Why?
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Chemical production: Locations such as Leuna and Bitterfeld are traditional chemical industry hubs.
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Agriculture: Grain and sugar beet production.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 20,000 positions per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Chemical industry and process engineering
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Food processing
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Logistics and agricultural services
Chance of finding a job:
Below average, with significant regional differences depending on the presence of industrial clusters.
15. Thuringia (Thüringen)
Rank: 15th
Why?
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Medium-sized industrial cities: Erfurt, Jena and Eisenach host industrial and technology companies, but on a relatively small scale.
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Agriculture and forestry: Present but not dominant in overall economic output.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Around 15,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Light industry and precision electronics
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Health services and education
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Agriculture and forestry
Chance of finding a job:
Relatively limited compared with larger western states, but gradually improving due to expanding technology projects.
16. Bremen
Rank: 16th (last place)
Why?
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Smallest state in terms of population (~0.68 million): Consequently, the absolute number of vacancies is relatively low.
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Strong reliance on port activities and the aerospace industry.
Estimated number of vacancies:
Roughly 10,000 jobs per year.
Key fields and sectors:
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Logistics, port operations and cargo handling
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Aerospace industry (e.g. Airbus facilities)
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Maritime trade and associated services
Chance of finding a job:
Medium overall, but notably higher for specialists in port logistics, shipping and aerospace.
Conclusion
Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse clearly lead in terms of the number of vacancies and demand for skilled workers, benefiting in particular from the automotive industry, technology sectors and financial services. Demographically large states like North Rhine-Westphalia remain major centres of diverse employment opportunities, even though competition can be intense.
In the remaining states, job prospects depend heavily on industrial investment, the strength of the tourism sector and the development of green energy projects.
In short, the German labour market up to 2025 is marked by a pronounced shortage of qualified workers in technology, engineering, healthcare and nursing. At the same time, demand remains strong in service and tourism-related occupations. For those seeking work in Germany, it is essential to match their qualifications with the economic profile and language requirements of the target state. Major cities and industrial regions tend to offer more options, but competition for attractive jobs is also higher there.
* The editorial team of this website makes every effort to provide accurate information based on thorough research and the consultation of multiple sources. However, some figures are based on estimates or changing statistics, and errors or uncertainties cannot be completely ruled out. The information in this article should therefore be regarded as an initial, non-binding reference only. For binding and fully up-to-date information, readers should always consult the competent authorities and official bodies.
