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Job offer in Kiel
Photo: Christian Charisius / picture alliance / dpa
Although the economic situation in the energy crisis is uncertain, 36 percent of German HR managers expect to employ new staff in the first half of next year.
Another 45 percent assume that their workforce will remain the same.
Only 18 percent plan on falling numbers.
This is the result of a recent survey by Randstad and the Ifo Institute, in which almost 630 HR managers from German companies took part.
Accordingly, the need for personnel in the service sector is even greater than in industry, which has long been complaining about a shortage of skilled workers.
42 percent would like to hire more employees from service providers.
However, companies are already aware of how difficult the search for personnel can be.
59 percent of those surveyed report major or very major problems when trying to find new employees.
The comparable figure two years earlier was 37 percent.
The survey painted a promising picture for employees: 81 percent of those surveyed want to increase wages in the coming year, and even 88 percent in the industrial sector.
And at least 42 percent plan to pay the inflation adjustment that companies are allowed to pay out to their employees tax-free up to a limit of 3,000 euros.
Big companies, big rewards
However, large companies in particular will exploit the full amount.
From a company size of at least 500 employees, almost 84 percent would like to pay the full 3000 euros.
In the case of small companies with fewer than 50 employees, only 66 percent plan to do this – but that is still a clear majority.
Since the end of October, employers have been able to grant their employees a bonus of up to EUR 3,000 free of taxes and duties.
This is a voluntary benefit whose tax exemption is limited to the end of 2024.
The tax allowance can be paid out in several installments.