Germany’s AI job boom in 2021 left most regions far behind
Demand for artificial intelligence skills in Germany surged in 2021, though opportunities remained unevenly spread across regions. While nearly 110,000 job openings were advertised nationwide, only a small fraction indeed required AI expertise—yet growth in this area far outpaced other sectors. Between January and November, employers listed around 110,000 positions, marking a 4.3% rise from the previous year. Among these, roughly 2,650 roles demanded digitalisation skills, with about 1,500 specifically requiring AI proficiency. Despite this sharp increase—277% higher than the prior year—AI-related jobs accounted for just 1.4% of all openings. Three regions dominated the market: North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, and Bavaria. Together, they hosted over half of all AI job postings. Meanwhile, Saarland saw almost no demand, with only four AI-related ads recorded. The trend reflects broader adoption of AI, particularly in IT-heavy sectors. In 2023, for example, 12.3% of companies in North Rhine-Westphalia reported using AI technologies. However, precise 2021 data on which cities or states led in job offers remains unavailable. Outside AI, other industries also saw shifts. The real estate sector experienced a modest rise in demand for skilled workers, though not at the same explosive rate as AI roles. AI job opportunities expanded rapidly in 2021, yet remained concentrated in a handful of regions. While growth was dramatic, the overall share of AI roles stayed small compared to the wider job market. The disparity highlights both the rising importance of AI skills and the uneven distribution of demand across Germany.
