As a foreigner relocating to Germany or interested in relocating either for work or studies, you need to understand the job market because you will need a job to survive there.
This article aims to answer your questions as regards the job market in Germany for foreigners. Stay tuned.
What You Should Know about the Job Market in Germany for Foreigners
1. Largest Labor Market
The job market in Germany is robust and for the past few years, Germany has operated on a stabilized Economy. According to the official government website, Germany owns the largest economy in the
European Union (EU), hence, its labor force empowers thousands of job seekers from across the world. As per data from the official government website, in March 2023, the Germany labor market was reported to have employed over 45.72% of job seekers, and still over 773,000 reported vacancies as of April 2023.
2. Shortage of Skilled Workers
Furthermore, the reason Germany has so many vacancies to fill is due to the shortage of skilled workers in some key industries that make up the economy. The skilled labor report conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) in Cologne, in 2022, highlighted the gap in skilled workers in the country’s workforce.
A more recent survey by the Ifo Institute in April 2023 reported that 43.1% of firms surveyed were suffering from a shortage of qualified workers. According to Ifo expert Stefan Sauer, “Despite a sluggish economy, many companies are still desperately searching for suitable employees,”
This is great news for skilled foreigners in Germany. The presence of skill shortage means increased demand for well-educated and skilled professionals with the required qualifications Hence, there is a high demand for foreigners to fill up the vacancies created in affected sectors.
3. Competitive Salary
Although the cost of living in some major cities in Germany is very expensive as with Berlin And Munich, the average salary in Germany is relatively higher and better than in other EU countries. According to Glassdoor, the average gross wage in Germany is 43,842 euros per year.
Although the average wage for German workers varies from city to city, if you want to enjoy an average lifestyle in Germany, it’s best you consider living in one of the cheapest cities.

Are There Job Opportunities in Germany for Foreigners?
Due to the increased demand for skilled workers across the engineering, IT, Marketing, Finance, and healthcare sectors, there are lots of job opportunities available for qualified foreigners in Germany. As per data from the official government website, there were 773,000 reported vacancies in Germany. This creates an open employment window for candidates with the right skill sets and qualifications.
Which Jobs are In-demand in Germany in 2025
According to the official government website ‘www.make-it-in-germany.com. The top in-demand jobs in-demand jobs with the highest number of skill shortages are professions in the sciences, engineering, and health care. These are the top sectors hiring foreigners in Germany.
The top in-demand jobs in Germany include:
- Nursing & Healthcare
- Engineering
- Aviation
- IT industry
- Finance & Insurance standard of work.
- Business analytics and account management
Other occupations are in demand by the level of requirements as described by the official German website.
Professions in:
- Child care and education
- Electrical works in construction
- Physiotherapy
- Specialist nursing
- Ergotherapy
- Software development
- Physicians
- Automatic Engineering
- Construction project planning and supervision
Read Also: IT Jobs in High Demand in Germany
Others:
- Drivers
- Medical assistant in dentistry
- Teachers in Secondary school
To work in one of these positions in Germany, you must possess a professional certification for any of the in-demand jobs. Otherwise, you should have plans to acquire a professional certification in one of the in-demand jobs while in Germany (it is possible to travel to Germany to get a degree).
In Germany, there is a “dual learning” system where students work for pay while they are in school to help pay for some of their living expenses; alternatively. However, you can still make it to Germany if you have a professional qualification for a profession that is less in demand. However, to work, you need to be good with German.
What is the Best Job for a Foreigner in Germany?
As described above, the best jobs for foreigners in Germany are Jobs that match their Skillset. In addition to the list provided above of skilled workers needed to fill up vacancies in Germany, these are :
- Livestock farming
- Forestry
- Horticulture
- Tyre and vulcanization technology
- Wood, furnishing, interior fitting
- Metalworking
- Surveying, scaffolding
- Interior construction and dry walling
- Glazing
- Pipeline construction
- Plant, container, and apparatus construction
- Monitoring and maintenance of railway infrastructure
- Freight forwarding and logistics
- Drivers for earthmoving and related machinery
- Sales (furniture, fittings)
- Sales
- System catering
- Pharmaceutical technical assistants
- Bus and tram drivers
- Agriculture
- Natural stone and mineral processing, stonemasonry
- Plastic and rubber manufacturing
- Mechatronics
- Electrical engineering
- Roofing
- Tile, slab and mosaic laying
- Screed and terrazzo laying
- Stucco plastering
- Carpentry
- Roller shutter and venetian blind installation
- Stove and air heating installation
- Road and rail transport sales
- Disinfection, pest control
- Cake and pastry sales
- Sale of healthcare and medical supplies
- Hotel service
Which City in Germany Has More job Opportunities?
According to the Careerbee website and popular research, the top cities in Germany with more job opportunities for foreigners are Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt.
According to the website, researchgermany.com, “In 2018, there were a total of around 185,000 legally independent commercial enterprises in Berlin, plus around 192,000 branches of companies based outside the capital”
In recent times, Berlin has a boost of top tech companies both local and international offering thousands of job opportunities to foreigners in the city.
City | Unemployment rate (%) | Employment of foreigners (%) | |
Berlin | 5.3 | 17.6 | |
Frankfurt | 4.8 | 19.3 | |
Munich | 4.5 | 15.8 | |
Stuttgart | 4.3 | 14.7 | |
Hamburg | 4.2 | 13.6 | |
Cologne | 4.1 | 12.5 | |
Düsseldorf | 4 | 11.4 | |
Bonn | 3.9 | 10.3 | |
Leipzig | 3.8 | 9.2 | |
Darmstadt | 3.7 | 8.1 |
Best City in Germany for Foreigners
Germany is not just a beautiful country with amazing scenery and economy, when it comes to tech and development, Germany takes the crown. In the whole of Europe, Germany holds great reputation for its industrial Hubs and jobs. If you are looking to live in Germany, these are the best cities in Germany for foreigners to live and work.
Best Places to Live in Germany for Expats:
- Berlin
- Bonne
- Frankfurt
- Hamburg
- Munich
- Stuttgart
- Dresden
- Cologne.
- Leipzig
These cities offer great housing environments, comfortable accommodations, and jobs with competitive salaries.
Conclusion:
The German labor market is lucrative and viable. If you are seeking to explore the market and become the path of the workforce, you can leverage the open window created by the current skill shortage of workers.
As discussed in this article, getting skilled in the technology world, healthcare, and engineering places you at an advantage. If this is you, check out our job portal for the latest openings in Germany and start making your application.
Need help to create a compelling resume or cover letter? Contact us today and a professional writer will be assigned to you.