Photonik industry in Thuringia: 2050 new jobs despite the crisis!

Photonik industry in Thuringia: 2050 new jobs despite the crisis!

The economic situation in Germany is currently anything but rosy, especially for our medium -sized businesses. The companies are fighting with orders, high costs and a bureaucratic jungle that takes the air to breathe. North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia are no exception here, and the uncertainty about the future is noticeable. In Thuringia, the mood in the economy is currently steamed, but encouraging news comes from the photonics industry: Despite all the challenges, companies in this area announce the creation of thousands of new positions. If you look into the future, a total of 2050 jobs will be filled by the end of 2026. Around 500 of these places are grabs due to age exits, the rest are fresh positions that are created to secure innovative strength.

Currently, 650 places are open in the photonics industry in Thuringia. These offers primarily extend to the areas of research, production, electronics and IT, which shows that this sector is still very much in demand. But the job market has its pitfalls: engineers are difficult to find, while the applicant in the commercial professions looks more gratifying. In the past, the innovation location of Thuringia has proven to be stable, which is mainly due to the strong investments in research. These expenses reached a record of 600 million euros in 2024, such as Thueringen24.de reported.

Photonik industry on the advance

The photonics industry in Thuringia generates impressive four billion euros annually, with a clear focus in cities such as Jena and the Saale-Holzland district. Despite the challenges in the general economy, the industry shows its resilience due to close links to research. From companies such as Jenoptik that offer internships and training positions in the areas of process automation and optics, to specialized companies such as Zeiss Microoptics, the sector is versatile and growth -oriented. The company GMBU e.V. is also looking for specialists with an annual salary between 35,000 and 40,000 euros, an attractive offer in times when many employees are looking for new perspectives.

Optonet, the industry network in Jena, is another driving force for the success of the photonics industry. Anke Siegmeier and Nora Kirsten lead this network that supports the company to create synergies along the entire value chain. This flexibility enables companies to serve various markets, which is of great importance in the current situation. According to [IHK Gera] (https://www.ihk.de/gera/magazin/wirtschaft/gut-tetzt-und-flexibel-strated-photonics industry-5948970), impressive 72% of the turnover of the Thuringian photonics companies abroad were achieved in Western Europe, North America and China. The smaller, regional actors also act internationally and bring the region's innovative strength to the next level.

shortage of skilled workers and future opportunities

The shortage of skilled workers, however, is seen as the greatest threat to growth in the industry. Two thirds of the companies surveyed warn of the consequences of this lack, which is why better MINT formation and strategies are required to win international talents. A bright spot: Around 80% of companies already employ employees with an international background, which shows that you are willing to break new ground to expand the talent pool.

If you are curious and would like to learn more about the new developments in the industry, you can, for example, (https://www.careerjet.de/stellenangebote-photonik/th%C3%BCRingen) or take action yourself. The W3+ Messe, which takes place in Jena on November 29 and 30, 2023, also offers a perfect platform for companies to present themselves and establish new cooperation. Over 130 companies and partners will present their latest products and services, and an accompanying conference will also take place to offer interested experts to deeper insights into the country of innovation.

In the middle of these challenges, it becomes clear that the photonics industry in Thuringia has the potential to grow and assert itself even in difficult times. The outlook on the coming years gives hope for a positive development that creates jobs and further strengthens the region's innovative strength.