HR Trends: Discover the German Employment Barometer by Eurojob Consulting

The latest Eurojob Consulting report on the german employment market offers invaluable insights into the hiring trends shaping recruitment in Germany. Based on a detailed analysis of both supply and demand, this study reveals the forces driving the market in 2024, providing essential information for HR professionals and business leaders.

Germany's employment market remains dynamic in the second half of 2024, despite mixed economic signals. The demand for highly skilled workers continues to rise across key sectors, especially in engineering, information technology (IT), and healthcare. For instance, the cybersecurity sector has seen a 15% increase in job postings compared to 2023, highlighting the growing need for experts in this area.

"The unemployment rate remains stable at around 5%, but regional disparities persist. Cities like Munich , Frankfurt, and Stuttgart experience strong demand, whereas more rural areas face challenges in attracting top talent."

Lea Orellana-Negrin
Recruiter
Eurojob-Consulting

Additionally, Germany's energy transition and its focus on green infrastructure have spurred demand for skills in the renewable energy sector, intensifying competition among employers to secure qualified professionals.

Candidates’ expectations are rapidly evolving, and understanding their aspirations is crucial for employers. Eurojob Consulting’s study reveals that professionals increasingly prioritize flexible working conditions and company values aligned with personal concerns.

In 2024, 63% of candidates in Germany expressed a preference for at least partial remote work, reflecting a strong post-pandemic trend toward telecommuting. Employers must adapt by offering flexible work policies to meet this demand.

Compensation remains a key factor, but candidates are placing greater emphasis on work-life balance and personal development opportunities. For example, 45% of candidates prefer companies that invest in ongoing training and offer clear career development paths.

Several key sectors in Germany are under pressure, presenting both challenges and opportunities for recruiters. These sectors are characterized by a growing demand for talent, often outstripping the available supply, forcing companies to compete for qualified professionals. Here's a detailed look at the most dynamic sectors with concrete data to better understand these trends.

Automotive Industry: The Shift to E-Mobility

Germany’s automotive industry, one of the largest globally, is undergoing major disruptions due to the shift to electric vehicles. This transformation, driven by European regulations on CO2 reduction, is pushing companies to hire talent in new fields such as e-mobility and artificial intelligence.

According to a McKinsey study, the German electric vehicle market is expected to grow by 25% annually until 2030, generating massive demand for engineers specializing in batteries, embedded software, and autonomous systems. Volkswagen, one of the industry leaders, plans to recruit 6,500 engineers by 2025 to meet these needs. Similarly, BMW and Daimler are heavily investing in upskilling their teams to adapt to this new era of sustainable mobility.

Information Technology and Cybersecurity: A Booming Sector

The information technology (IT) sector is also booming in Germany, particularly in cities like Berlin and Munich, which have emerged as major European tech hubs. In 2024, the demand for IT experts, especially in cybersecurity, software development, and cloud computing, continues to rise.

A report from Bitkom, Germany’s digital association, reveals a current shortfall of 137,000 IT experts in the German market. As a result, companies often need to recruit internationally to bridge this gap, presenting an opportunity for Franco-German recruiters skilled in sourcing French-speaking talent. SAP, a leading German software firm, aims to hire 3,000 AI and cloud computing experts by the end of 2024 to bolster its teams.

Cybersecurity firms are particularly under pressure. With a 30% increase in cyberattacks since 2021, companies like Siemens and Deutsche Telekom have launched massive recruitment campaigns to attract specialists who can protect their infrastructures.

Life Sciences: Growing Demand for Specialized Talent

The life sciences sector is another area of tension. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, especially in regions like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, are actively recruiting chemical engineers, biotechnologists, and data science experts to support the sector’s growth.

For instance, BioNTech, famous for its COVID-19 vaccine, plans to expand its workforce by 30% in 2024 to support new research projects. Similarly, Bayer, specializing in pharmaceuticals and agricultural products, has announced significant investments in biotechnology research, with plans to hire hundreds of researchers over the next two years.

Renewable Energy: A Green Transition

Germany is undertaking an ambitious energy transition, with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. This drives a strong demand for talent in the renewable energy sector, particularly in wind, solar, and green hydrogen technologies.

The German government’s plan to achieve these targets anticipates the creation of over 300,000 new jobs in the green energy sector by 2030. Companies like Siemens Energy and EnBW are actively hiring renewable energy engineers, specialized technicians, and energy storage experts.

For Franco-German recruiters, this dynamic presents a real opportunity, especially for talents from France, where the renewable energy sector is also expanding rapidly. There is a high demand for professionals who can work in international and multicultural environments.

Germany’s key sectors in 2024 provide unique opportunities for Franco-German recruiters. Whether in automotive, IT, life sciences, or renewable energy, companies must adapt to the growing demand for skilled workers. For recruiters, the key to success will be the ability to source specialized talent, often internationally, and offer attractive working conditions to retain these valuable employees.

By partnering with leading companies like Volkswagen, SAP, and BioNTech, and leveraging the evolving tech and energy markets, recruiters can capitalize on this dynamic and meet the needs of a rapidly transforming job market.

To keep up with these evolving trends, companies must rethink their HR strategies to attract and retain the right talent. Flexibility is becoming a key factor in successful recruitment, with hybrid models—combining in-office and remote work—proving to be a significant advantage in appealing to candidates.

Investing in continuous learning and development is another essential lever for keeping employees engaged. Companies that emphasize upskilling their workforce will be seen as more attractive. For instance, firms offering training programs in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity are particularly appealing to tech candidates.

In addition to flexibility and skills development, building a strong employer brand is crucial. Promoting values such as sustainability, inclusion, and employee well-being is vital in attracting younger generations who want to align their professional and personal values.

Overall, companies that focus on creating a flexible, inclusive, and growth-oriented workplace will be better positioned to attract top talent and stay competitive in 2024's rapidly changing job market.

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Olivier Geslin