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Demand for employees in Germany reaches record high

An official index on available jobs across Germany hit a record high in June, as strong economic growth continues to drive down unemployment, it was announced on Thursday.

Published: 29 June 2017 16:03 CEST
Demand for employees in Germany reaches record high
Photo: DPA

The Stellenindex, an index of job adverts registered with the Federal Job Agency (BA), rose three points compared with April to 135 points, the highest count since the index was created in 2005. In comparison with June 2016, the Stellenindex increased by 19 points.

The growth in the job market was seen in almost all sectors. But the highest demand was in manufacturing, trading positions, the service industry and construction. There was also an increased demand for temporary workers.

On Friday the BA will publish the absolute number of available positions nationwide.

According to the BA the stable economic situation in Germany was the main factor behind the growth in the job market.

But in boom times workers are also more prepared to switch jobs, leaving the positions they have left behind open, the BA stated.

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

There was equally good news from a reputed consumer confidence index on Thursday.

German consumers are expected to remain cheerful through July, pollsters GfK, as the public falls in step with general optimism about Europe's largest economy.

GfK's forward-looking poll of around 2,000 consumers forecast an increase of 0.2 points to reach 10.6 in July, continuing an upward trend observed over the past two months.

“Germans see the domestic economy in excellent shape into the beginning of the summer,” the firm commented in a statement.

“Even uncertainty about possible restrictions on trade by the US government or the start of Brexit negotiations can't cloud the picture for now,” they went on – although both could be troubling prospects for citizens of Europe's export powerhouse.

June saw an upturn in all the indexes feeding into GfK's indicator, with consumers expecting a stronger economy and higher incomes as well as being more prepared to spend money.

Low interest rates have contributed to people's inclination to spend over saving, the survey found, while a stronger labour market has boosted confidence.

“Low levels of fear for their own jobs means consumers can plan more securely. That makes them ready to take on bigger purchases with higher financial risks,” the pollsters said.

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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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