Führungskräfte: Hochqualifiziert, erfolgreich, arbeitssuchend – Vier Betroffene berichten

In Berlin, it was widely believed that Germany valued hardworking, motivated, and skilled individuals who could find employment. However, this perception has changed in the current economic downturn. Many companies are not only hiring fewer workers but also laying off employees. According to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), about 15,000 jobs are lost each month in the industrial sector alone.

Consequently, a growing number of job seekers are encountering fewer job openings. A new trend has emerged, with highly qualified professionals, including managers and executives, increasingly facing unemployment. Over the past year, the number of unemployed executives has surged by 14 percent, as reported by figures from the Federal Statistical Office.

Additionally, the percentage of academics remaining unemployed for more than a year has also risen. The German business magazine Handelsblatt initiated an appeal on the LinkedIn job platform, which received responses from over 100 affected individuals. Most of these professionals were dismissed or offered contract termination. Some even left their employers voluntarily, expecting to find new opportunities quickly.

Most of these individuals were between 50 and 60 years old. Four of them share their experiences with the long job search and the challenges it presents.