Leadership vacancies and labor shortages impact German companies

Unoccupied leadership positions pose significant risks to companies, leading to delayed decisions, unclear responsibilities, and lost project momentum. The process of permanent recruitment is often lengthy due to search times, contract negotiations, and notice periods, which can leave critical gaps for several months.

In Germany, the labor shortage is a growing concern. The Federal Employment Agency has identified 157 bottleneck professions for 2025, particularly in nursing, medicine, construction, and trades. A survey by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry revealed that 36 percent of nearly 22,000 surveyed companies struggle to fill vacancies due to a lack of suitable personnel, a figure that rises to over 40 percent for small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, 83 percent of companies anticipate negative impacts from the shortage of skilled workers in the coming years.