That was an oddly confusing segment about Huber. In the third to last paragraph of the long story are we (finally) told that "He's chronically ill", though I s

That was an oddly confusing segment about Huber. In the third to last paragraph of the long story are we (finally) told that "He's chronically ill", though I suppose one is supposed to decode his health issues from the earlier "By that point, he had already been unable to work for two years and was on welfare." What are the opportunities for independent IT contractors, as he apparently was, in Germany today? Isn't there strong demand for IT skills in Germany, for a salary that pays above welfare?