The IT and communications industry is still largely satisfied with its current business situation. corresponding index for the digital sector fell by 4.8 points to 30.5 points in September compared to the previous month, but this value is only slightly below the long-term average.
However, expectations for the next six months are less optimistic. The business expectations index is at -15.6 points. In August, this value was -5.2 points and in January, it was +18.8 points. The Bitkom-Ifo Digital Index, which is calculated by averaging the business situation and expectations, is currently still slightly positive at 6.2 points, compared to 14.1 points in the previous month.
“This means that the industry is currently more robust than at the beginning of the Corona pandemic in spring 2020 and during the international financial crisis in 2008,”
says Bitkom CEO Bernhard Rohleder.
“Those companies that can help their customers overcome the crisis, for example by making processes more efficient and thus saving energy, are particularly optimistic about the future.”
Digital industry continues to seek skilled workers
Despite the difficult situation, many companies in the ICT sector plan to create additional jobs. Employment expectations are at 24 points, a significant increase. This means that the vast majority of companies plan to hire additional workers in the next three months. Rohleder says:
“Demand for IT specialists remains high.”
The situation in the overall economy looks bleaker. The Ifo Institute reports a value of -15.7 points for the business climate. In January 2022, the business climate index was still +10.0 points. The business situation declined by 6.9 points to 15.4 points. Expectations slipped by a further 11.0 points, reaching -42.3 points, well into negative territory.
