Germany construction sector sees modest order growth and tighter leadership hiring

In May 2026, Germany's construction main trade recorded a 3.3% rise in real, seasonally‑adjusted order intake compared with April and a 3.5% increase over the same month a year earlier. High‑rise work fell 3.1% while deep‑building orders rose 8.7%. Over the three‑month period March‑May, orders were 2.6% higher than the previous quarter, driven by a 5.3% gain in high‑rise projects. Despite higher orders, real revenue fell 2.1% year‑on‑year, although nominal revenue grew 2.4% to €10.1 billion. Employment in the sector rose 1.5% to about 545,000 workers.

A concurrent labour‑market study of the German real‑estate and construction sectors shows a more selective hiring pattern. Companies are focusing on technical expertise, asset‑management and renovation roles, while the creation of new senior‑level positions remains limited. Recruiting cycles have lengthened, with three to four interview rounds now common, and firms place greater emphasis on cultural fit, future‑skill potential and transparent compensation. Demand is strong for specialists in building services, project management of refurbishment and adaptive‑use projects, as well as for staff supporting boarding houses, student housing, micro‑living and senior‑living concepts. Classic project‑developer roles continue to see weak demand.