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Germany to have up to 760,000 new jobs by year’s end: report

Two new reports predict a boom in the German job market this year, one predicting half a million new positions, the other 760,000.

Published: 12 June 2017 17:27 CEST
Germany to have up to 760,000 new jobs by year’s end: report
Workers at Berlin game developing company Wooga. Photo: DPA.

The German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) reported on Monday that, based on business survey results, they predict there to be half a million new jobs created this year, particularly in the medical field.

“The demand for health care services is increasing due to the demographic changes, and growing health consciousness – additional employment of 130,000 comes as a result,” said DIHK managing director Martin Wansleben in a statement.

But Professor Enzo Weber from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) said it would be a disappointment if the number of new jobs only reached 500,000, Spiegel reported on Monday. Weber predicts that the number of new jobs with social insurance obligations would be 760,000. He also said he expected the number of positions which will be cut by companies to be very low in 2017.

SEE ALSO: Germany to see record ‘job boom’ in 2017, says report

The DIHK calculates that the number of jobs related to marketing and research created in 2017 will be significant, reaching 130,000 new jobs, specifically at advertising agencies, in market research, and at research and development institutes.

“The education sector is profiting from the higher need for training in connection to digitalization and refugees,” Wansleben added.

“Manufacturing will also again expand greatly. Exports and investments will finally rise again. We calculate 30,000 more new jobs there.”

The construction boom in Germany derived from greater housing and infrastructure needs is also expected to bring the number of related jobs to a new level, with 35,000 more positions.

Still, the DIHK report found that for the first time, more than half of firms see their business development threatened by a shortage of skilled workers. Therefore the number of new jobs will not be as high in all areas as last year.

In the hospitality industry, health care sectors, and for education services, three-quarters of companies reported such shortages. Four in five firms in the civil engineering sector also said they could not find the necessary workers.

“Strengthening the dual education system is therefore particularly important,” said Wansleben.

“In order to boost the employment potential, the compatibility of family and work must furthermore be improved – in particular through child care offers, also for marginal time during the day.”

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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.'

Published: 7 February 2024 10:54 CET
Updated: 10 February 2024 08:20 CET
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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