5 min. read

For a long time, the shortage of cloud specialists was seen as an unchangeable constant in Germany’s IT landscape. But something is shifting: companies, education providers and policymakers have understood that waiting for graduates is not a strategy. The result is an upskilling offensive that is slowly but measurably making an impact.

The Key Points at a Glance

• 109,000 IT positions unfilled: According to Bitkom (2025), Germany has a massive cloud skills gap that could grow to 200,000 positions by 2030.
• Certification boom: AWS certifications rose by 43 percent in 2025, Azure by 38 percent, and Google Cloud by as much as 52 percent in the DACH region (Global Knowledge 2025).
• Corporations are becoming academies: SAP is investing 2 billion euros in employee transformation, while T-Systems trains thousands of specialists every year through its in-house Cloud Academy.
• Career changers as a solution: 22 percent of all new cloud specialists do not come from traditional IT – bootcamps and continuing education providers are lowering the barrier to entry (Hays 2026).
• Upskilling reduces turnover: Companies with cloud training programs record 30 percent fewer resignations in IT teams (LinkedIn Learning 2025).

The Certification Wave

The clearest indicator of this turnaround is the explosion in cloud certifications. AWS reports that the number of certified Solutions Architects in Germany rose by 43 percent in 2025. Microsoft reports a 38 percent increase in Azure certifications in the DACH region. Google Cloud even recorded growth of 52 percent, albeit from a smaller base.

These figures are not an end in themselves. In its annual IT Skills and Salary study, Global Knowledge finds that certified cloud specialists in Germany earn on average 15 to 20 percent more than their non-certified colleagues. For specialized certifications such as AWS Security Specialty or Google Professional Cloud Architect, the salary premium is as high as 25 percent.

The market is responding to these incentives. Platforms such as Coursera and Udemy are seeing demand for German-language cloud courses grow by 60 percent. A Cloud Guru, Pluralsight’s platform specializing in cloud training, launched a German-language program in 2025 and attracted 8,000 participants within six months.

When Corporations Become Academies

The most effective upskilling programs do not come from education providers, but from companies themselves. SAP has implemented this most consistently.

The Walldorf-based company has announced plans to invest around 2 billion euros in transforming its workforce – including reskilling, continuing education and restructuring, with a focus on cloud technologies and AI – including edge computing for industry. The internal „SAP Learning Hub“ program reaches 2.5 million users worldwide, including 400,000 in Germany. For employees without an IT background, there is a six-month intensive program that trains career changers to become SAP BTP developers.

T-Systems has built its own Cloud Academy and trains thousands of employees in cloud technologies every year – from basic courses to architect certification. Particularly noteworthy: 35 percent of participants come from non-technical areas. Project managers, business analysts and even sales employees learn cloud fundamentals so they can collaborate more effectively with their technical colleagues.

Deutsche Telekom goes one step further. In 2025, the company launched an internal reskilling program that enables employees from shrinking business areas, such as the traditional fixed-line business, to move into cloud roles. In the first cohort, 320 employees successfully made the transition. The success rate for the subsequent AWS certification is 82 percent.

„Waiting for graduates is not a strategy. Companies that invest in upskilling now are not just solving their immediate recruiting problem – they are building a workforce that can keep pace with technological development.“

Career Changers: From Mechanic to Cloud Engineer

Perhaps the most important development in the German cloud labor market is the growing acceptance of career changers. For a long time, the rule was: no computer science degree, no IT career. That attitude is starting to crumble.

Specialized training providers such as Cloud Academy and Pluralsight offer German-language certification programs that can be completed alongside a job. Participants come from every industry: former mechanics, bank clerks, teachers, restaurant workers.

Neuefische, a Hamburg-based bootcamp provider, launched a specialized cloud engineering program in 2025. In 12 weeks, career changers learn AWS, Terraform, Docker and Kubernetes – key skills for any multi-cloud strategy – and finish with an AWS certification. The cost is around 12,000 euros – fully eligible for funding for participants with an education voucher from the Federal Employment Agency.

These programs fill a gap that the traditional education system cannot close quickly enough. German universities produce around 30,000 computer science graduates each year. Demand is above 50,000. Without career changers and continuing education, this gap cannot be closed.

According to an analysis by CompTIA, career changers already account for 22 percent of all new hires in cloud roles in Germany. In the U.S., the share is 31 percent – a level Germany is likely to reach within two to three years.

„Uptake is increasing, but slowly: in 2025, 14,000 applications were approved (Skilled Immigration Act) – against demand many times higher.“

What companies are getting right – and where problems remain

The upskilling offensive has weaknesses. The biggest one: many mid-sized companies are still not on board. While DAX corporations are investing millions in cloud training, according to KfW only 28 percent of SMEs have a structured IT training program.

That is a problem because SMEs account for 60 percent of jobs in Germany. If cloud expertise becomes a prerequisite for competitiveness – for example in the consolidation of sprawling SaaS landscapes – and it will – , a split threatens to emerge: corporations with cloud-capable teams on one side, SMEs with outdated IT structures on the other.

Initiatives such as the IHK Munich „Cloud for Mittelstand“ program are trying to close this gap. The program offers subsidized cloud training for small and medium-sized companies, with a focus on practical use cases rather than theoretical fundamentals. Since its launch in September 2025, 430 companies have taken part.

The federal government has also responded. Since 2024, the Skills Development Opportunities Act has enabled expanded funding for cloud training. The Federal Employment Agency covers up to 100 percent of course costs for employees at companies with fewer than 250 staff. Uptake is rising, but slowly: in 2025, 14,000 applications were approved (Skilled Workers Immigration Act) – against demand that is many times higher.

Germany’s cloud skills gap will not close overnight. But the trend reversal has begun. Companies that invest in upskilling now are not only solving their immediate recruiting problem. They are building a workforce that keeps pace with technological development – instead of falling behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cloud certification offers the best value for money?

For beginners, the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification offers the best entry point – low costs (150 euros exam fee), broad recognition, and suitability as a springboard for specializations. For more experienced professionals, the AWS Solutions Architect Associate delivers the highest salary premium in the German market, followed by Azure Administrator Associate.

Can I become a cloud engineer as a career changer without an IT degree?

Yes, and the market is becoming increasingly open to it. Bootcamps such as Neuefische or specialized cloud academies train cloud engineers in 3 to 12 months. The placement rate is above 85 percent. What matters less is the formal degree than a recognized certification and practical project experience.

How can my company benefit from government training subsidies?

The Skills Development Opportunities Act enables funding of 75 to 100 percent of course costs, depending on company size. Companies with fewer than 250 employees receive the highest subsidy rate. The application is handled through the local Federal Employment Agency and should be submitted before the measure begins.

Further Reading

• AIOps: How AI automates cloud operations and prevents outages – cloudmagazin
• Digital Government: Germany’s public administration in the 21st century – MyBusinessFuture
• FinOps: How companies finally get cloud costs under control – cloudmagazin

More from the MBF Media Network

• 149,000 open IT positions: How CIOs are using AI copilots as a replacement for skilled talent – Digital Chiefs
• AI Made in Germany: 935 startups and an ecosystem that is maturing – MyBusinessFuture
• Cybersecurity trends 2026: The 7 developments security decision-makers need to know – SecurityToday

Title image source: Pexels / Christina Morillo