Shortage of skilled workers Fewer first-year students in STEM subjects

It is urgently necessary to hire experts in the fields of technology, natural sciences, computer science, and mathematics. The number of first-year students in these subjects has significantly decreased, however, according to the Federal Statistical Office.

When discussing the lack of skilled workers, the so-called MINT occupational groups are frequently brought up. The German economy is in desperate need of skilled workers in the fields of mathematics, information technology, natural sciences, and technology (MINT). The federal statistical office reports that, despite having excellent career prospects, the number of first-year students studying these subjects has significantly decreased.

About 307,000 students selected a STEM subject for their first semester in the winter and summer semesters of 2021 and 2021/22, respectively. Compared to 2020, there was a 60.5 percent decrease.

Additionally, for the first time since 2007, fewer students were enrolled in MINT courses during the winter semester of 2021/22. It was 1 point 0 percent lower than in the previous winter semester, coming in at 1 point 09 million.

The Institute of German Business (IW), which represents employers, estimates that there is already a shortage of about 140,000 experts in academic MINT professions, leading to the statement "Innovative power in Germany is at risk.". In addition to the engineering fields of electrical engineering and mechanical engineering as well as the construction industry, the bottlenecks are particularly severe in the IT professions.

Due to digitization and decarbonization, there will likely be an increase in demand for these specialists, but more academics are also retiring at the same time. However, at the same time, the percentage of students choosing MINT courses in the first semester is decreasing; in 2021, it was 37%.

The previous peak was reached in 2015 when it was still 40%. Women are still less likely than men to choose to study STEM fields, despite a slight increase in the proportion of women in these fields.

However, over time, the percentage of female first-year students in the MINT field has increased. In 2001, it was 30.8%, and by 2021, it was already 34.5%. There are significant differences between the various subjects, according to the statistics office: in 2021, interior design had the highest percentage of women (88%) and steel construction had the lowest percentage (22%) of women.

In the first year of computer science courses, there were 21.8% more women than men. It was also stated that overall, more women than men are beginning a degree program: The proportion of women among all students in the first semester of the 2021 academic year was 52.4 percent.

The number of newly concluded training contracts in this profession has increased from 9,800 in 2011 to 15,800 in 2021, counteracting the trend at universities where training as an IT specialist has become more popular.

There are significant differences between the various subjects, according to the statistics office: in 2021, interior design had the highest percentage of women (88%) and steel construction had the lowest percentage (22%) of women.