Three Questions and Answers: Is the economic crisis hitting the IT job market?
The economic downturn in Germany is also noticeable in the IT sector. Which jobs are affected and how are salaries developing?
For years, the German economy has barely grown, and former flagship industries like automotive manufacturers and mechanical engineering are in considerable crisis. How secure are jobs in IT in the face of this economic headwind? And what about the salaries, which are still quite high compared to other industries? Our cover author, Dorothee Wiegand, cover author of iX 12/2025, assesses the general situation on the IT job market and explains who is in demand and who needs to be careful.
The German economy has been sluggish for a long time. How does this affect the IT job market?
Of course, the IT job market is not entirely spared by the economic weakness. However, the crisis does not impact the IT sector nearly as much as, for example, production or administration. Experts have observed a 30 percent decline in IT positions over the past five years. But even if not as many IT jobs are advertised as before, the shortage of IT specialists still exists. IT professionals with good skills will continue to find attractive job offers.
Which IT professions are particularly impacted, and who seems crisis-proof?
Apparently, the use of AI is having a strong impact on the supply in creative areas. The number of positions for web designers and developers has significantly decreased. At the same time, the increased use of AI is also leading to new fields of work. Many companies are in the midst of an implementation process, and the number of positions for AI experts has even increased.
The demand for SAP specialists remains unchanged. The broad introduction of SAP S/4HANA contributes to the high demand in this area. IT security experts are also still in high demand; the risk of cyberattacks of all kinds is high, and it would be negligent to save money here. Insurance and financial companies in particular are also looking for compliance experts.
What is the economic situation doing to salaries? Should IT professionals try to negotiate for more salary despite the economic crisis?
Salaries in the IT sector have hardly moved upwards recently. For a few years now, they have been stagnating, albeit at a comparatively high level for Germany. The crisis is having a clear impact here. However, this should not deter individuals with solid knowledge, valuable experience, and good soft skills from talking to their superiors. Only those who ask regularly have a chance of a salary increase.
If the boss currently sees no room for a higher salary, it is important to be flexible. A job ticket or job bicycle can also be interesting, as can employer-funded further training or an increase in company pension contributions.
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Dorothee, thank you for the answers! An overview of the weakening IT job market and salary development is available in the new iX. We also take a look at how IT freelancers are faring in the current market situation and what hourly rates are achievable. And we show strategies for negotiating more salary despite the crisis. All this and many other topics can be found by readers in the December issue, which is available now in the heise shop or at newsstands.
In the series “Three Questions and Answers,” iX aims to get to the heart of today's IT challenges—whether from the user's perspective at the PC, the manager's view, or the administrator's daily routine. Do you have suggestions from your daily practice or that of your users? Whose tips on which topic would you enjoy reading concisely? Then feel free to write to us or leave a comment in the forum.
(axk)
