Thuringia defies crisis: photonics industry will create new jobs in 2050!

Thuringia defies crisis: photonics industry will create new jobs in 2050!

The economic situation in Germany remains tense, especially for medium-sized companies. This also applies to Thuringia, where many regions are confronted with uncertainty and a dampening mood in the economy. Problems such as a lack of orders, high costs and bureaucracy contribute to the precarious situation. Despite these challenges, the photonics industry in Thuringia is showing optimistic signs and is announcing a large number of new positions.

The photonics industry in Thuringia wants to hire a total of 2,050 new employees by the end of 2026. Some of these positions, namely 500, are replacements due to retirement, while the majority include new positions. There are currently around 650 open positions, particularly in the areas of research, manufacturing, electronics and IT. However, recruiting engineers is difficult, while there is a good supply of applicants for commercial professions.

Thuringia as an innovation location

Despite the economic challenges, Thuringia remains an important location for innovation. Companies are investing more in research activities, with spending expected to reach a record 600 million euros in 2024. The photonics industry alone generates annual sales of four billion euros, with important centers located in Jena and the Saale-Holzland district.

There are numerous positions to be filled in the region. Orizon offers individual support in the job search and has advertised positions such as photonics service engineer in Jena, commercial clerk and hardware development engineer. Other open positions include commissioning technicians and specialists in facility and real estate management.

Career opportunities in photonics

Companies like Jenoptik, a global photonics group with more than 4,000 employees, are also looking for reinforcements. The positions offered here include production managers and optics developers (gn) for the development and optimization of manufacturing processes. In addition, IV IR OPTICS GmbH in Eisenach needs specialists who develop and produce crystalline materials for optics.

There are also opportunities for temporary work or internships in marketing at the Jena location. Anyone looking for new job offers in the photonics industry in Thuringia can also set up a job alert. Despite the existing economic uncertainties, the region therefore offers attractive prospects in a future-oriented sector.

Further information on developments in the photonics industry in Thuringia can be found in a detailed report by Thüringen24. Career reorientation steps can also be taken via platforms such as Careerjet, which specifically list job offers for the industry.

While the challenges for the regional economy continue, the prospects for the photonics industry and its employment opportunities are promising.

For current information please visit Thuringia24 website and Careerjet.