There’s some good news in Germany’s IT job market, which doesn’t happen often. The latest Bitkom study puts the shortage of IT professionals at 79,000. That’s down from 109,000 in 2025 and 149,000 in 2023.

Before you celebrate, though, look at the next number.

The Number That Matters More

97% of companies with open IT positions still say they struggle to fill them. A third say applicants lack knowledge of current technologies, and 31% receive virtually no applications at all.

So the gap is smaller, but trying to hire hasn’t got much easier. That’s why so many businesses are looking at other ways to build capacity.

AI Is Changing What Companies Look For

Bitkom’s figures also show AI starting to reshape hiring. Among companies that have cut IT jobs or expect to, 35% say they’re using AI to replace vacancies they can no longer fill, or no longer want to. At the same time, 12% of companies with open IT roles are looking for AI specialists.

In other words, the skills you need next year may not be the ones you advertised for last year.

Where a Virtual ODC Fits

This is where a Virtual ODC can help. Not as a way to replace your team, but as a way to add capability when you need it: a developer, a tester, a cloud engineer, a data specialist. October’s post described the best ones as an extension of your business rather than an outside supplier, and that remains the right test.

What to Look For

• A clear skills match. Ask to see the actual profiles, not just a headcount
• Integration with your tools, processes and security rules
• Communication and working hours that suit your team
• A way to scale up or down as your projects change
• Named accountability on the provider’s side

Think in Capabilities, Not Headcount

Instead of asking “how many developers do we need?”, try asking “which skills are we missing, and for how long?” The answer often changes how you plan.

Struggling to find the right technology skills?

Digitus Consulting can talk through how a Virtual ODC could work for your business. Get in touch and the conversation will start with your goals.