New figures suggest the number of entry-level jobs in Germany is falling rapidly in some sectors. Here’s what that means for international professionals, students and parents raising children here.
Germany may still be searching for skilled workers, but getting a foot on the career ladder is becoming increasingly difficult.
According to a new analysis by Indeed Hiring Lab, job openings aimed at entry-level workers have fallen by more than two-thirds since their peak in 2022.
By July 2026, the number of entry-level vacancies advertised on Indeed was 46 percent below 2019 levels, even though the wider job market remained above its pre-pandemic benchmark.
The findings add a new layer to a labour market story many foreign residents will already recognise.
Germany continues to report shortages in a range of professions and remains heavily reliant on immigration to help offset demographic change.
But the latest figures suggest those shortages are not necessarily translating into opportunities for people at the start of their careers.
Which sectors are being hit hardest?
The downturn has affected almost every part of the labour market, but the Indeed study suggests that some sectors have suffered far more than others.
Knowledge-based professions were among the hardest hit. Entry-level openings in marketing dropped by 75 percent between 2022 and 2026, while vacancies in IT applications and solutions fell by 77 percent. Project management positions were down by 60 percent.
For many international graduates, these are exactly the kinds of jobs they hope to land after university. They are often office-based, degree-focused roles that have traditionally served as a first step into the German labour market.
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But not every sector is moving in the same direction.
Indeed found continued growth in nursing, medicine and pharmacy, where entry-level vacancies increased by 18 percent. Food service, restaurants and hospitality also recorded growth.
Notably, many roles in these sectors are typically accessed through vocational training rather than a university degree.
Is AI to blame?
Many of the jobs seeing the sharpest declines involve tasks that can increasingly be assisted by artificial intelligence, including research, analysis, content creation and administrative work.
Indeed’s data shows that occupations with higher exposure to AI have generally experienced steeper declines in entry-level hiring. Marketing, project management and some technology roles are among the clearest examples.
But the study stops short of blaming AI alone.
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Researchers point out that the decline began in spring and summer 2022 – before the release of ChatGPT in late 2022 – which suggests that broader economic factors are also at work.
In uncertain times, for example, experienced workers may appear less risky than graduates who require significant onboarding and mentoring.
Why are apprenticeships holding up?
One of the study’s most striking findings concerns Germany’s apprenticeship system.
While opportunities for graduates have narrowed, apprenticeship and dual-study vacancies have remained comparatively resilient. Indeed found that apprenticeship openings were still around 50 percent above 2019 levels in the most recent recruitment cycle.
Even within individual sectors, apprenticeships often performed better than graduate jobs.
Software development provides a good example. Entry-level jobs in the field fell by around 70 percent, while apprenticeship openings remained above their 2019 level.
Part of the explanation may be that apprenticeships are more heavily concentrated in occupations that are less exposed to automation and AI. For example, healthcare, technical trades and hands-on professions continue to see strong demand.
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There is also a practical business consideration. During periods of economic uncertainty, Indeed suggests that some employers may view training apprentices in-house as a lower-risk option than recruiting university graduates at higher starting salaries.
The figures also reinforce something that many Germans take for granted but newcomers only discover after arriving. Vocational training is not viewed as a second-class option here; in many industries it remains one of the most reliable routes into stable employment.
What does this mean for foreign residents and job seekers?
For young people entering the workforce, opportunities may be scarcer than they were a few years ago.
But compared with many neighbouring countries, Germany’s combination of apprenticeships, dual-study programmes and relatively low youth unemployment may provide young people with more options than many neighbouring countries.
According to Indeed, unemployment among 15- to 24-year-olds stood at 7.1 percent in Germany in 2025, compared with 19.8 percent in France, 24.9 percent in Spain and 15.2 percent across the EU as a whole.
The picture remains relatively encouraging for international students. As The Local previously reported, graduates of German universities are significantly more likely to find work than people who arrive and start job-hunting immediately.
Time spent building language skills, professional networks and local work experience continues to matter.
But the data also suggests that young people and foreign parents raising children in Germany may benefit from looking into the country’s apprenticeships and dual-study programmes.
Opportunities aren’t disappearing in Germany – but the most reliable routes into work may not look quite the way many people expect.
READ ALSO: Which apprenticeships in Germany are the highest paid?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
