Workforce Forecasts

How many workers will be available in a specific industry or region in 10 years, and will this be enough to cover demand? Which jobs and skills will be impacted by new technologies? What training paths can companies take advantage of to secure their growth?

Our labor market forecasts and workforce analyses deliver answers to these decisive questions. As staff shortages, new required competencies, and economic challenges grow, organizations are using our tools and data to future-proof their workforce, location, and qualification strategies.

By identifying key developments in labor markets – including the current and upcoming availability of workers, future skills, and training pathways – WifOR helps actors in policymaking, business, and the non-profit sector make better decisions.

Making labor trends visible and predictable

Stakeholders can only plan their workforce needs and react strategically to shifts if they have robust, understandable data on labor markets. For this purpose, we offer insights and guidance on:

Existing and expected supply and demand of workers across regions, industries, and jobs
Occupation-specific shortages and untapped workforce characteristics
Hiring competition insights, as well as local wage and productivity comparisons
Essential future skills and qualification pathways between occupations
Impact of scenarios, including changes in workforce participation, regulations or technologies

How organizations benefit from our labor forecasts & research

We combine scientific models with practical analyses to connect the labor market with workforce and personnel strategies applicable in real settings.

Use case overview

Anticipate workforce needs

Identify future talent pools and uncover regional and occupation-specific risks and opportunities.

Secure service in key sectors - Labor market icon

Secure service provision in key sectors

Address workforce shortages (for example, in health and social care) to ensure long-term stability.

Communicate externally and internally

Providing science-based key messages for employment measures and policy recommendations.

Shape education and regional economies

Align training systems with skill needs while supporting location development and attractiveness.

Case studies: Our labor market research in action

Skilled Labor Monitor, a tailored tool to assess workforce availability

WifOR created an interactive dashboard for Business Upper Austria to showcase the supply and demand of workers, forecasts, and labor scenarios in the Austrian state. The data from the tool is incorporated into strategic reviews and training plans. It is also used to inform discussions and raise awareness on critical labor market developments such as staff shortages.

Explore the tool

Qualification paths for industries in motion: The example of automotives

E-mobil, the agency for mobility solutions in the state of Baden-Württemberg, has used WifOR’s insights to respond to industry shifts and design effective training measures in the automotive sector. Our study, including in-depth interviews, shed light on applicable qualification pathways and provided practical recommendations for companies.

Study (in German)

The public sector using our research to inform policy for essential branches

The Hamburg city government requested a study analyzing the economic footprint of the local health sector, its labor market conditions, and solutions to workforce challenges. The results aid authorities and lawmakers in their plans to strengthen critical healthcare systems, tackle personnel shortages, and enhance the city’s attractiveness for international talent.

Read the flyer

Trustworthy facts in the press and a broader look at the labor market

The Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper publishes the labor market index FRAX calculated by WifOR every quarter, helping to shape public discussions with objective evidence. The index, which goes beyond traditional indicators to track developments linked to work in Germany, supports FR’s articles and other news publications – serving as a reliable source for data, quotes, and context.

Read media articles