Industry 4.0: innovations with future prospects

Nowadays, digital applications and intelligent technology define our day-to-day lives. Tools are printed with 3D printers, languages can be learnt with apps and robots have taken on many tasks. As a result, the IT industry is one of the most innovative sectors in the world.

Germany is still influenced by the spirit of innovation, meaning that the German markets for IT, telecommunications and consumer electronics are in leading positions within Europe. With an innovator rate of approximately 85%, the industry is not only one of the most innovative in Germany but is also a driving motor of the German economy, generating a turnover of 196.1 billion euros. That is the reason why IT specialists in Germany are more in demand than ever.

The German IT industry in figures

137,000 job positions

are vacant in the IT sector.

84 billion euros

are generated by mid-sized companies in the IT sector.

IT specialists are in urgent demand

Take one of the diverse career and development opportunities in Germany using your professional abilities and creativity! In 2020, more than 86,000 job positions in the IT sector remained vacant. Experienced or qualified IT specialists can therefore hope for attractive jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises, in the manufacturing industry or in large international companies. Specialists in the following fields are particularly in demand:

• Software development: as a software developer, you will design and implement software using the appropriate programming language. Your work will be user-oriented, and you may program complete applications or individual building blocks.
   
• Application support: in this occupation, you will maintain and provide support for software and hardware, such as SAP or SharePoint. Working in application support, you are a central point of contact for the company’s products.
   
• IT security: as an IT security expert, you will be responsible for the protection of the company’s data. Continuous further training to stay up to date as well as working on novel solutions for software systems are part of your field of responsibility.
   
• Data science: as a data scientist, you will analyse large quantities of data and deduce the appropriate solutions. To this end, you will use various methods in information technology and mathematics.

Tip

Have you already gained professional experience in information and communications technology, and you now want to work in Germany? If so, the Federal Employment Agency offers special support to international professionals working in IT on its website “ICT Experts for Germany”.

Do I need a visa?

As a citizen of the European Union, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, you do not require a visa or a residence permit to work in Germany. Citizens of other countries do require a residence permit for this purpose. You can find more information on the work visa for qualified professionals and the EU Blue Card in the “Visa” section. 

Tip

Do you have practical experience in the field of information and communication technology but no formal qualifications? Find more information in the “Work visa for IT specialists” section.

✔ Your career prospects: with our Quick-Check, you can find out about the opportunities available to you for working and living in Germany.

✔ The German employment market: find out more about job-hunting and get useful tips in our “Looking for a job” section.

✔ Apply now: find a suitable position in our “Make it in Germany” job listings and use our tips for a successful job application in Germany.

Special information offer for IT professionals

Do you need more information on working as an IT professional in Germany? On “Make IT in Germany!”, you will find everything you need to know about the German IT industry and how you can kick off your career step by step.