Agency Partners

PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Germany

This report was last updated on Aug 9, 2025

Bence Gedai / Founder

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

  • The Software PHP Engineer job market in Germany has exhibited notable fluctuations, highlighted by a peak of 454 job openings in week 21.
  • There are currently a total of 3,159 job openings for Software PHP Engineers across the country, indicating a strong demand for talent.
  • The top three companies hiring Software PHP Engineers in Germany include TaxTalente with 163 openings, adesso SE with 128, and HIT Handelsgruppe GmbH & Co. KG with 56.
  • Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg rank as the top cities for Software PHP Engineer job opportunities, with Berlin leading at 39% of the job distribution.
  • Hiring for Software PHP Engineers in Germany is competitive, with a median time to hire of just 33 days and a talent pool that is not keeping pace with increasing demand.
Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Germany in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Germany in the last 3 months

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Germany has displayed notable fluctuations over the last 12 weeks. In week 21, there was a remarkable spike with 454 new jobs posted, a peak that significantly contrasts with an average of 37 openings prior. However, this surge was followed by weeks of lower job postings and a substantial number of positions closed, reaching 185 in week 23. The difference between openings and closures indicates a potentially volatile market, revealing a higher demand for PHP Engineers compared to other roles, with a hiring trend suggesting that while opportunities are abundant, recruitment strategies for CTOs and hiring managers must adapt to sustain candidate interest amidst this fluctuating landscape.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Germany:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
TaxTalente logo TaxTalente Germany Information Technology & Services null 163
adesso SE logo adesso SE Germany Information Technology & Services 1997 128
TieTalent logo TieTalent Switzerland Information Technology & Services 2017 114
Bending Spoons logo Bending Spoons Italy Information Technology & Services 2013 65
Canonical logo Canonical United Kingdom Information Technology & Services 2004 57
HIT Handelsgruppe GmbH & Co. KG logo HIT Handelsgruppe GmbH & Co. KG Germany Retail 1901 56
Optimus Search logo Optimus Search United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2005 53
Mindrift logo Mindrift United States Information Technology & Services null 52
Instaffo logo Instaffo Germany Information Technology & Services 2014 51
n8n logo n8n Germany Information Technology & Services 2019 34

Here are a few specialized software agencies you can trust:

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Germany

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Germany

The talent market for Software PHP Engineers in Europe presents a varied landscape, driven by the differing job openings and available talent. In Germany, the ratio of talent pool to job openings indicates a challenging environment for hiring, with a more limited pool compared to demand. Meanwhile, countries like Poland and the Netherlands show a more favorable ratio, suggesting easier access to qualified candidates. Conversely, a country like France is facing similar hiring pressures as Germany, making recruitment strategies crucial for CTOs and hiring managers. Overall, navigating the Software PHP job market in Germany requires a keen understanding of recruitment trends and potential talent shortages.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Germany

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Germany

In the German software PHP job market, the seniority distribution reveals that 38% of positions are designated for Entry level roles, while 30% are allocated for Mid-Senior level positions. Additionally, Associate roles make up 13% of the total job opportunities. This distribution highlights a significant demand for junior talent in the field, indicating a growing market for Software PHP Developer opportunities in Germany.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Germany

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Germany

In Germany, the employment type distribution for Software PHP engineers reveals a strong preference for full-time roles, which account for approximately 96% of job opportunities. Part-time positions represent around 4%, while internships make up a mere 1%. This substantial dominance of full-time roles highlights the growing demand for stable, long-term employment in the Software PHP job market in Germany.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Germany

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software PHP Engineers in Germany reveals significant trends that hiring managers should note. The highest frequency lies in the 30-day range, with 1,958 counted instances, suggesting a prevalent timeframe for recruitment in the software development sector. As we analyze the broader spectrum, intervals of 25 to 35 days encompass a substantial portion of the hiring process, illustrating that more than half of roles are filled within this critical timeframe. Conversely, hiring durations extending beyond 60 days are less common, indicating a favorable market for swift placements of Software PHP Developers. Ultimately, understanding these time frames is vital for CTOs and Engineering Managers devising effective recruitment strategies within Germany's competitive tech landscape.

Most popular cities in Germany to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Germany to hire Software Engineers

The data reveals that the top three cities for Software PHP Engineer job openings in Germany are Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. Berlin leads the market with 39% of the job distribution, followed by Munich at 19%, and Hamburg at 10%. This underscores Berlin's prominent position as the capital and a key hub for tech talent in the country, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Germany for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

The software PHP job market in Germany reveals a distinct preference for several key technologies, which are crucial for hiring managers to consider. PHP itself stands out with a frequency of 5,384, making it the foundational skill for Software PHP Engineers. Following PHP, JavaScript is extremely prevalent, with a frequency of 2,846, indicating its importance in full-stack development roles. MySQL and SQL also hold significant positions, with frequencies of 1,571 and 1,491 respectively, highlighting the necessity for database management skills. Additionally, Laravel and Symfony, both robust PHP frameworks, reflect a frequency of 1,110 and 956, underscoring their relevance in creating modern web applications. For a comprehensive overview of these technologies, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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