Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Automotive, IT\/Software<\/strong>, and Mechanical Engineering<\/strong> are 2025’s most affected industries for freelancers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 32% of freelancers report project declines in the automotive sector<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- IT\/Software<\/strong> sees 23% fewer projects; Mechanical Engineering<\/strong> experiences 12% decline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Main drivers<\/strong> include weak economic conditions, falling exports, and geopolitical uncertainties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Despite challenges, IT\/Software remains the top employment sector for freelancers<\/strong> at 33%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The industries losing ground in 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
freelancermap surveyed over 1,300 freelancers <\/strong>for the upcoming Freelancer Kompass 2026, a freelancer study<\/a> that has provided the most comprehensive data on freelancing in the German-speaking region for over ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe results clearly show the industries that were hit the hardest<\/strong> this year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Automotive<\/strong>: 32%<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- IT\/Software<\/strong>: 23%<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mechanical Engineering<\/strong>: 12%<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The automotive industry<\/strong>,<\/strong> as well as<\/span> the IT and software<\/strong> sectors, have been struggling for some time now. Mechanical engineering<\/strong> is also facing significant challenges. Following closely behind are industrial manufacturing and banking\/finance. Consulting, as well as retail and consumer goods, are affected at 9% and 8% respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese declines stem from Germany’s weak economic performance, compounded by geopolitical shifts such as trade disputes with the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAutomotive industry in crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It’s no surprise that automotive leads the list<\/strong> of declining sectors. The industry faces unprecedented economic pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to EY’s Industry Barometer<\/a>, the automotive sector lost approximately 51,507 jobs from Q2 2024 to Q2 2025 (a nearly 7% decline). Simultaneously, automotive revenue dropped by 1.6%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis downturn directly impacts the 32% of surveyed freelancers who report noticeable project declines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This figure far exceeds freelancermap’s average year-over-year project decline of 5.9%. Companies are cutting costs, and external specialists are often the first to go since these contracts can be terminated more easily than permanent staff positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why this sector is struggling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The automotive industry’s challenges are both structural and cyclical:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Weak sales, intense competition from China, and costly transitions to electric mobility<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- High energy prices and bureaucratic hurdles<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trade disputes with the US making German exports significantly more expensive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Major companies<\/strong> are responding with drastic measures:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Mercedes-Benz and VW announce comprehensive cost-cutting programs<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bosch and Continental reduce production capacity<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Porsche largely discontinues its battery subsidiary Cellforce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Freelancers feel these austerity measures immediately. When companies reduce expenses, external project work is typically the first casualty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe reality: Half of freelancers report worse project conditions compared to last year, and 43% of respondents have no secured workload<\/strong>. Only a quarter of freelancers have planning security beyond three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n“When so many industries experience project declines and nearly half of freelancers have no planning security, this is no longer an individual risk but a structural problem. Freelancers represent flexibility and expertise. Yet these very professionals are increasingly under pressure because economic and political conditions make their work more difficult.<\/b> \u2014 Thomas Maas, CEO of freelancermap<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Despite declining project demand, 14% of surveyed freelancers worked in automotive or consulting<\/strong>. Even with reduced demand, the field remains relevant for self-employed professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIT and Software as second-largest losers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
At 23%<\/strong>, the second-largest freelancer group experiences noticeable declines in IT<\/strong>. This affects an industry that has long been considered stable and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMany IT professionals are active on freelancermap<\/a>, making the project decline particularly noticeable. Yet the IT sector remains the largest client on the platform. The majority of respondents (33%) worked primarily in IT and software in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis means: While project declines are tangible, self-employed specialists remain in demand. According to a Bitkom study<\/a>, the German economy currently lacks 109,000 IT professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, 26.2% fewer open IT positions were posted within a year, according to a study by the Institute of German Economics (IW)<\/a> \u2014 representing 16,500 fewer positions in absolute terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReasons for the Decline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The IW attributes the decline primarily to weak economic performance. Economic uncertainty<\/strong> leads many companies to postpone or cancel investment projects<\/strong> entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis directly affects IT projects and demand for external specialists. Simply put: when budgets shrink, IT projects are often the first to be postponed or eliminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where demand Is booming: AI as a market exception<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
However, not all areas are affected equally. Demand in the AI sector is surging<\/strong>. The need for AI developers<\/a><\/strong> and engineers jumped from nearly 60 project listings in 2024 to around 200 in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe trend is even more pronounced across all AI-related listings<\/strong>: 159 projects sought AI expertise on freelancermap in 2023, growing to 453 in 2024 and 1,091 in 2025. This represents growth of over 530% in just three years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile traditional IT projects are declining in many areas, AI holds the potential to become one of the most important growth drivers in the coming years<\/strong>. Freelancers can leverage this by focusing on specialisations<\/strong>, pursuing further education<\/strong>, and riding emerging trends<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The industries losing ground in 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
freelancermap surveyed over 1,300 freelancers <\/strong>for the upcoming Freelancer Kompass 2026, a freelancer study<\/a> that has provided the most comprehensive data on freelancing in the German-speaking region for over ten years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The results clearly show the industries that were hit the hardest<\/strong> this year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The automotive industry<\/strong>,<\/strong> as well as<\/span> the IT and software<\/strong> sectors, have been struggling for some time now. Mechanical engineering<\/strong> is also facing significant challenges. Following closely behind are industrial manufacturing and banking\/finance. Consulting, as well as retail and consumer goods, are affected at 9% and 8% respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These declines stem from Germany’s weak economic performance, compounded by geopolitical shifts such as trade disputes with the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s no surprise that automotive leads the list<\/strong> of declining sectors. The industry faces unprecedented economic pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to EY’s Industry Barometer<\/a>, the automotive sector lost approximately 51,507 jobs from Q2 2024 to Q2 2025 (a nearly 7% decline). Simultaneously, automotive revenue dropped by 1.6%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This downturn directly impacts the 32% of surveyed freelancers who report noticeable project declines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This figure far exceeds freelancermap’s average year-over-year project decline of 5.9%. Companies are cutting costs, and external specialists are often the first to go since these contracts can be terminated more easily than permanent staff positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The automotive industry’s challenges are both structural and cyclical:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Major companies<\/strong> are responding with drastic measures:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelancers feel these austerity measures immediately. When companies reduce expenses, external project work is typically the first casualty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality: Half of freelancers report worse project conditions compared to last year, and 43% of respondents have no secured workload<\/strong>. Only a quarter of freelancers have planning security beyond three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “When so many industries experience project declines and nearly half of freelancers have no planning security, this is no longer an individual risk but a structural problem. Freelancers represent flexibility and expertise. Yet these very professionals are increasingly under pressure because economic and political conditions make their work more difficult.<\/b> \u2014 Thomas Maas, CEO of freelancermap<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Despite declining project demand, 14% of surveyed freelancers worked in automotive or consulting<\/strong>. Even with reduced demand, the field remains relevant for self-employed professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 23%<\/strong>, the second-largest freelancer group experiences noticeable declines in IT<\/strong>. This affects an industry that has long been considered stable and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many IT professionals are active on freelancermap<\/a>, making the project decline particularly noticeable. Yet the IT sector remains the largest client on the platform. The majority of respondents (33%) worked primarily in IT and software in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means: While project declines are tangible, self-employed specialists remain in demand. According to a Bitkom study<\/a>, the German economy currently lacks 109,000 IT professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, 26.2% fewer open IT positions were posted within a year, according to a study by the Institute of German Economics (IW)<\/a> \u2014 representing 16,500 fewer positions in absolute terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The IW attributes the decline primarily to weak economic performance. Economic uncertainty<\/strong> leads many companies to postpone or cancel investment projects<\/strong> entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This directly affects IT projects and demand for external specialists. Simply put: when budgets shrink, IT projects are often the first to be postponed or eliminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, not all areas are affected equally. Demand in the AI sector is surging<\/strong>. The need for AI developers<\/a><\/strong> and engineers jumped from nearly 60 project listings in 2024 to around 200 in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The trend is even more pronounced across all AI-related listings<\/strong>: 159 projects sought AI expertise on freelancermap in 2023, growing to 453 in 2024 and 1,091 in 2025. This represents growth of over 530% in just three years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While traditional IT projects are declining in many areas, AI holds the potential to become one of the most important growth drivers in the coming years<\/strong>. Freelancers can leverage this by focusing on specialisations<\/strong>, pursuing further education<\/strong>, and riding emerging trends<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/project-downturn-industries-2025-1024x673.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAutomotive industry in crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why this sector is struggling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/freelancer-workload-evolution-2025-1024x577.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIT and Software as second-largest losers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reasons for the Decline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where demand Is booming: AI as a market exception<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/areas-activity-where-freelancers-primarily-worked-2025-1024x516.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Looking](\"https:\/\/www.freelancermap.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cta-blog-freelancermap-sign-up.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n