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German freelancers on the march

The number of people working without an employer in Germany has risen to a record high, according to new figures which come with a claim that freelancers and the self-employed generate 10 percent of Germany's GDP.

German freelancers on the march
Photo: DPA

New statistics from the association of freelancers (BFB), published in financial daily Handelsblatt on Friday, show the number of German freelancers increased by 4.3 percent in 2011 to reach 1.2 million.

This upward trend has reportedly remained unbroken during the past few years, particularly among professionals like lawyers, financial advisors and doctors.

They are also becoming increasingly important as bosses, showing a three percent rise in the number of people they employ – to reach 2.78 million.

But the BFB says this trend could hit a ceiling if conditions are not made easier. “In particular, they should make it easier for self-employed to look for employees overseas,” said BFB President Rolf Koschorrek. “Employers and employees who want to work together need un-bureaucratic and direct support.”

He said potential foreign employees could be offered loans of up to €25,000 to off-set the costs of moving homes and language lessons.

He also said that accelerating Germany’s energy transition would generate opportunities for new enterprises to offer more jobs. “Whether it’s technically … or in advisory roles, the free professions will fulfil their special responsibilities in the field of energy efficiency and energy supply through high-quality performance,” said Koschorrek.

He also added that young people should also be encouraged to go into freelance professions from an earlier age. “In school at the latest, the next generation should be told about the opportunities in freelance work without being handed down prejudices,” he said. He said freelancing was “indispensable” for a dynamic development of the economy.

The Local/bk

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WORKING IN GERMANY

Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Bavaria is no doubt a beautiful state with a strong economy, but can be a hard place for non-German speakers to integrate. The Local takes a look at job opportunities in Germany’s southeastern 'Free State.'

Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Munich ranks third in German cities with the highest total GDP, behind Berlin and Hamburg, but in terms of GDP per capita, it’s higher than both of them.

It also consistently ranks high, often highest, in terms of average household income.

As of 2023, nine of the 40 companies listed on DAX, Germany’s stock index, were based in Bavaria. Seven of those are based specifically in Munich.

While Frankfurt is commonly known to be Germany’s business capital, Munich can claim the title of Germany’s insurance capital, which is saying something, as Germany is home to some of the largest insurance firms in the world, like Allianz.

Beyond the state’s capital city, a number of international companies are based elsewhere in Bavaria, particularly in the Franken region, near Nuremberg.

Which companies actively hire English speakers?

Bavaria, and Munich in particular, is home to a number of companies at the forefront of international business. But the state is known for its traditional, sometimes conservative, culture, which affects its business culture as well.

Whereas companies embracing English as their primary business language are easy to find in Berlin, the practice is less common in the south. That said, there are some notable exceptions. 

Sportswear giants, Adidas and Puma, both have their headquarters near Nuremberg in Herzogenaurach, and regularly recruit English speaking international talent.

“As an international company, our teams reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities,” Jon Greenhalgh, Senior Manager Media Relations for Adidas told The Local. “Fostering a culture of inclusion where we value and leverage differences, ensures that we can authentically engage with our employees and truly connect with our consumers.”

He added that around 40 per cent of Adidas’ Germany-based employees are foreign nationals, from over 100 different countries.

Siemens and BMW rank among Bavaria’s top employers, and are also known to hire their fair share of foreigners.

“In Germany, we recently had around 2,000 open positions,” Konstanze Somborn told The Local on behalf of Siemens AG.

He added that Siemens operates in 190 countries. “That is why we value international teams very much…English as a common language is very usual.”

READ ALSO: ‘Which German companies want to hire foreigners?’

Similarly, BMW hires workers from a variety of backgrounds. 

“Every year, we hire lots of internationals and welcome them to the BMW Group,” Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl, a press spokesman for BMW Group told The Local. 

But not all of these positions are available to non-German speakers.

Ketterl added that BMW’s working language is German in the country, even though, “English is an indispensable entry requirement as the second corporate language in many areas of the company.”

Check job boards and follow best practices

If it’s your first time applying for jobs in Germany, make sure to change your resume to the German format, even for English positions.

While Germany is home to its own job boards, like Xing, LinkedIn is probably the best place to start. In addition to searching for positions based in your preferred location, you can check relevant groups, like Munich Startups, to broaden your horizons.

The English Jobs in Germany website is also a good resource to start with. 

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