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How to check if your employee's profession is a shortage occupation in Germany (2025)
Employers can now check if their employee profession is classified as a shortage occupation (Mangelberuf) in Germany by consulting official and updated sources that list in-demand professions based on labor market analysis. Here are the key ways to verify this:
Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit):
The Federal Employment Agency regularly publishes the official list of shortage occupations (Engpassberufe) based on labor market data and statistical analysis. This list identifies professions with significant demand and insufficient supply of qualified workers in Germany.
- The list is updated annually and includes sectors such as healthcare, IT, engineering, education, and STEM fields.
- Occupations scoring 2.0 or higher on the bottleneck index qualify as shortage occupations.
- HR can access the current list directly on the Bundesagentur für Arbeit website or via the official government portal.
Make it in Germany Portal:
The German government’s “Make it in Germany” portal is a comprehensive resource for HR professionals managing international recruitment and retention. It provides:
- A detailed overview of professions currently in demand.
- Information on qualification recognition and immigration pathways linked to shortage occupations.
- Guidance on salary thresholds and visa options like the Mint Blue Card.
Recognition Finder on Anerkennung in Deutschland:
This tool helps you determine if your foreign professional qualification is recognized in Germany and whether your profession is regulated, which is often linked to shortage occupation status
Check the Fachkräfteverordnung (Skilled Workers Regulation):
The Fachkräfteverordnung is a legal regulation issued by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs that lists shortage occupations eligible for special immigration facilitation. HR can:
- Check the latest version of this regulation to confirm if a profession qualifies.
- Use it as a legal reference when applying for or renewing work permits like the Mint Blue Card.
Consult your employer or the local Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde):
For case-specific confirmation, HR can:
- Consult the local Ausländerbehörde where the employee is registered.
- Reach out to the local employment agency for advice on shortage occupation classification and related work permit procedures.
Shortage occupations sector list
For a quick overview, sectors currently recognized as shortage occupations include:
- Medical doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists
- IT specialists such as software developers and programmers
- Engineers and technical experts
- Teachers and educators
- Managers in manufacturing, mining, construction, and distribution
- STEM professionals and architects
To verify your specific profession, you can visit:
- The official shortage occupation list on the Federal Employment Agency website or the Make it in Germany portal.
- Use the Recognition Finder tool at Anerkennung in Deutschland to check qualification recognition status.
List of handy resources for managing shortage occupation check
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