Analysis: Lack of IT experts endangers digitization in public authorities

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Citizens' registration office in Berlin Wilmersdorf: Life should be made easier through digitization

Photo: Schöning / IMAGO

Thousands are retiring and not enough are moving up: In German offices and authorities, there could be a staff shortage of 140,000 IT specialists by 2030.

This is the result of an analysis by the management consultancy McKinsey.

Since the previous calculation from 2019, the gap has increased by 15 percent, it said.

The authors warn that the important digitization of public administration could come to a standstill.

There is already a shortage of IT specialists, and the need is growing.

The projections are based on the current rate of recruitment and the number of those retiring in the coming years.

According to the study, the public sector has a total of 5.1 million employees, of whom more than 1.5 million will retire by 2030 for reasons of age.

There is already a gap of 39,000 experts, which will more than triple by 2030.

"Against the background of the large digitization programs of the federal and state governments, the estimate of the staff gap can still be considered conservative," said Julia Klier, co-author of the study.

Because certain projects are likely to further drive the need for specialists.

Among other things, the e-file and the online access law, which is intended to digitize the driver's license application.

"Digital administration projects such as the digital driver's license application are things that make our lives easier," said Björn Münstermann, who is responsible for public sector consulting at McKinsey.

With the gas terminals you saw what is possible in Germany in a short time.

Now there is also a need for a central authority in the public sector, which controls the measures against the shortage of skilled workers in the IT area.

Crusty structures discourage applicants

In order to deal with the shortage of skilled workers, authorities and offices would have to speed up their recruitment processes, according to the study.

However, there were not enough young people from the IT courses to cover the demand.

It is therefore important to train your own staff.

There is a lot of catching up to do here.

"We've been warning of the ever-increasing shortage of skilled workers, especially in the IT sector," said Ulrich Silberbach, federal chairman of the civil servants' association dbb.

The federal government is already paying more in professions where the shortage of skilled workers is particularly serious.

But that alone is not enough.

The federal, state and local governments would have to pay better wages and make working conditions more attractive.

And even if encrusted structures slow down digitization projects, that deters the next generation.

mmq/dpa