According to Eurostat, Eurozone unemployment rate rose to 11.8% in November 2012. But in spite of the economic crisis, Germany stands out as one of the few EU countries that’s maintaining some of the lowest rates of unemployment on the continent.
As a city with a thriving financial centre, not to mention excellent education and transportation systems, Frankfurt is an appealing place to work and live for those considering the move abroad. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about a work-based move to Frankfurt…
Residence permits
Skilled and qualified individuals hired for industries which are experiencing a shortage are more likely to obtain residence permit than low-skilled workers. EU citizens enjoy the right to work and travel freely in Germany, as well as benefitting from cheap flights to Frankfurt in 2013. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the US can apply for their residence from the Bureau for Foreigners in Germany on arrival. Citizens of other countries require prior consent of the labour administration in order to gain access to the employment market.
Working in Frankfurt
As Europe’s financial hub, there are many international and local banks, financial institutions, pharmaceutical, automotive and electronic companies in Frankfurt. With the rising elderly population, there is high demand for specialized doctors, nurses and allied workers in the health sector. In the education sector, there is demand for German-speaking teachers and professors in the schools and universities. As a highly industrialized country, engineers and expertise in electrical, information and communications technology, mechanical, welding and painting are also needed.
Jobs resources
Online resources for expats such as jobs.expatica.com/de can be useful when looking for jobs in Germany. If you’re in academia, also check out the local Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Frankfurter Rundshau newspapers, either online before you go or buy the weekend copy on arrival. High-profile jobs can sometimes be found on your embassy website.
As the finance and business hub in Germany, home for one of the world’s largest stock exchanges and headquarters of the European Central bank and the German Federal Bank, it’s not hard to see why there has been an influx of foreign workers into the German city in the last few years. With at least 500,000 newcomers needed every year to bridge the shortfall due to ageing population and to maintain current economic growth, Frankfurt is an ideal place to start your job-hunt.
