About two thirds of all vacancies in Germany address graduates from technical study courses. Economic and IT experts, however, are less sought after by companies. Only one in four companies plan to hire an economic or social expert and only one in five companies look for computer experts. Particularly many vacancies are provided by small and medium-sized entities (SMEs).
This is a finding of the »Young Professional Index« in the course of which 2.943 vacancies offered by 800 companies were examined in the first quarter of 2007 on behalf of the »jobs in time« personnel consultancy.
Most offers come from industry and address young engineers: 76% of companies in the processing industry are looking for graduate engineers. Striking is also the interest by service providers in young engineers, in particular by small and medium-sized entities (63%). With regard to major service providers only one in three of these offer jobs for engineers.
But engineers are not the only ones sought after. Nine in ten service providers offer jobs to young diploma holders in general. Regarding SMEs 38% of all job offers come from service providers. In second place is the processing industry which accounts for one third of all job offers from SMEs. As regards major enterprises with 500 and more staff most offers come from manufacturing companies which provide three quarters of all vacancies. The trade sector is in third place in both categories SMEs (15%) and major enterprises (6%).
From an geographical point of view young professionals fare best in the South and South-West of Germany. The Federal States of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg account for 52% of all job offers, one third comes from North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. On the other hand only 6.1% of job offers for young professionals are published in the East and only 8.3% in the North of Germany. For engineers Bavaria is the best place to go to: 41% of job offers regard graduates of technical study courses. Economic and social experts are also in demand in Bavaria (26%) and in Baden-Wurrtemberg (27%). The situation is similar for computer experts: 28% of all German job vacancies for computer experts are posted by companies in Baden-Württemberg and 21% in Bavaria.
However, companies expect from graduates more than just a diploma. Knowledge of foreign languages is required in 75% of all vacancies. Similarly important are computer skills of applicants. Particularly important is this skill in the case of economists and social scientists (69.9%). For engineers good computer skills are required by three thirds of companies, regarding scientists and lawyers by 50% of companies.
70% of companies expect practical experiences from applicants, ideally two years. In 86% of vacancies addiditional soft skills skills, in particular social skills (88.5) and team spirit (67.5%)d are demanded. Furthermore analytical thinking (33.4%), flexibility (26.9%) and proactive behaviour (24.9%) are expected too.
More detailed findings of the study are available for download. 