Employment
Finding Suitable Staff
Generous support from the Federal Employment Agency as well as the services of private recruitment agencies help to improve the process of finding suitable staff in Germany.
Workforce in Germany
Germany’s well-educated and trained workforce includes an economically active population of more than 46 million people. More than 81 percent of the working population has successfully completed some form of vocational training. Dual programs in vocational education and training are of particular importance. In addition, each year, more than 500,000 students graduate from universities in Germany. Graduates in matematics, natural sciences and engineering represent 35 percent of the academic population.
Recruitment Services
In Germany, a wide array of public and private agencies supports both domestic and foreign companies in finding suitable staff. The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) provides a highly professional service to meet supply and demand. The agency, which can be found in all municipalities in Germany, provides its services free of charge. Additionally, the Federal Government’s official Make it in Germany information portal assists employers in recruiting qualified professionals from abroad and foreign nationals in moving to Germany.
Private recruitment agencies – typically members of the Federal Employers’ Association of Personnel Service Providers (Bundesarbeitgeberverband der Personaldienstleister e.V.) - are also available. These agencies normally charge the hiring company – under no circumstances the employee - for providing their recruitment services. In general, this fee does not exceed an amount of around two gross monthly salaries of the respective employee.
Companies looking for personnel can also advertise their open positons in newspapers and journals or on company websites and online job platforms. Local newspapers are essential in finding unskilled or semi-skilled labor. However, sourcing skilled labor usually requires some form of advertising in national newspapers and professional journals or online.
Public Support
In Germany, a broad range of labor-related incentives helps in the development of qualified staff. Under certain conditions, even wage subsidies administered by the Federal Employment Agency can be disbursed.
