https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Emails and chat-apps have led to the blurring of lines between work time and personal time for many workers. If you work in Germany, you may be wondering what exactly your boss can ask of you. https://www.thelocal.com/20250818/qa-what-can-workers-in-germany-be-asked-to-do-during-vacation-time Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:07:21 +0200 qa-what-can-workers-in-germany-be-asked-to-do-during-vacation-time Volkswagen said Tuesday that it would cut 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as its profit slid to its lowest level since 2016. https://www.thelocal.com/20260310/volkswagen-to-cut-50000-jobs-in-germany-by-2030 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:03:59 +0100 volkswagen-to-cut-50000-jobs-in-germany-by-2030 For the first time in 15 years, more EU citizens are leaving Germany than arriving. A new government study explains why. https://www.thelocal.com/20260304/why-are-so-many-eu-citizens-planning-to-leave-germany Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:47:42 +0100 why-are-so-many-eu-citizens-planning-to-leave-germany If you’re eyeing a career move to Germany or already living here as a foreign resident, 2026 is shaping up to be an intriguing and largely positive year for salaries. https://www.thelocal.com/20251126/whats-a-good-salary-in-germany-in-2026 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:14:07 +0100 whats-a-good-salary-in-germany-in-2026 Headlines about job cuts, the struggling economy and layoffs sparked by AI are common at the moment. But how is the German job market faring and what can we expect in 2026? https://www.thelocal.com/20260120/six-things-to-know-about-germanys-job-market-in-2026 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:42:25 +0100 six-things-to-know-about-germanys-job-market-in-2026 Germany reportedly lacks a record number of workers and yet many job-seekers suggest that finding work is harder than ever. The Local spoke to a professional development coach about strategies for finding and securing new opportunities. https://www.thelocal.com/20250806/get-uncomfortable-5-expert-tips-for-your-job-search-in-germany Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:39:01 +0200 get-uncomfortable-5-expert-tips-for-your-job-search-in-germany Germans take more sick leave than most of their European neighbours. As businesses grapple with the economic strain of absences, we explore the different reasons behind Germany's high rate of sick days. https://www.thelocal.com/20251125/why-do-people-in-germany-take-so-many-sick-days Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:13:48 +0100 why-do-people-in-germany-take-so-many-sick-days Tech giant Google has unveiled its biggest-ever investment in Germany, pledging €5.5 billion for a new data centre and other projects. How many jobs will it create – and where? https://www.thelocal.com/20251112/what-googles-e5-5-billion-investment-means-for-jobs-in-germany Wed, 12 Nov 2025 10:52:19 +0100 what-googles-e5-5-billion-investment-means-for-jobs-in-germany If Germany's labour shortages are so bad, why do so many foreign skilled workers struggle to find work? We asked our readers to shed light on the mystery – and share the tips and tactics which worked for them. https://www.thelocal.com/20250715/dont-lose-hope-how-to-navigate-germanys-painful-job-market Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:35:54 +0200 dont-lose-hope-how-to-navigate-germanys-painful-job-market Demonstrating financial stability, and not relying on certain welfare benefits, is among the basic requirements to gain German citizenship. We asked our readers if they thought this was fair, and some mentioned cases where it gets complicated. https://www.thelocal.com/20251016/responsibility-to-contribute-are-the-financial-requirements-for-german-citizenship-fair Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:55:30 +0200 responsibility-to-contribute-are-the-financial-requirements-for-german-citizenship-fair Germany is desperate to attract foreigners to its shrinking workforce. But mixed messages on immigration, such as shelving fast-track citizenship, mean workers do not see a future here, one expert tells The Local. https://www.thelocal.com/20251015/interview-germanys-mixed-messages-on-migration-are-driving-skilled-workers-away Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:16:09 +0200 interview-germanys-mixed-messages-on-migration-are-driving-skilled-workers-away At least 14 percent of all patent applications developed in Germany now originate from inventors with foreign roots, with Indians, and women, making particularly dynamic contributions. https://www.thelocal.com/20251014/immigrants-and-women-behind-growing-number-of-patents-in-germany Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:45:57 +0200 immigrants-and-women-behind-growing-number-of-patents-in-germany As the labour shortage in Germany worsens, the federal cabinet has given the go-ahead for a new agency that would make it easier – and faster – for more skilled migrants to come and live in Germany. https://www.thelocal.com/20251007/work-and-stay-agency-how-germany-plans-to-speed-up-skilled-worker-immigration Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:25:03 +0200 work-and-stay-agency-how-germany-plans-to-speed-up-skilled-worker-immigration Losing a job can be a nightmare situation for foreigners in Germany - but following these simple steps will get you back on your feet in no time. https://www.thelocal.com/20240910/four-steps-to-take-straight-away-after-losing-your-job-in-germany Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:34:39 +0200 four-steps-to-take-straight-away-after-losing-your-job-in-germany German authorities are recognising more foreign qualifications than ever before, new figures show. https://www.thelocal.com/20250905/germany-recognises-record-number-of-foreign-qualifications Fri, 05 Sep 2025 19:01:17 +0200 germany-recognises-record-number-of-foreign-qualifications Immigrants in Germany and other countries earn significantly less on average than non-immigrant citizens. This wage gap also continues into the next generation, according to a new study. https://www.thelocal.com/20250718/germanys-immigrant-wage-gap-affects-the-next-generation-study-says Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:01:26 +0200 germanys-immigrant-wage-gap-affects-the-next-generation-study-says One country's national stereotype is about hard work and efficiency, the other's is more concerned with lunch, cigarette breaks and strikes - but is it actually true that the Germans work harder than the French? https://www.thelocal.com/20250717/who-works-harder-the-french-or-the-germans Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:51:30 +0200 who-works-harder-the-french-or-the-germans Due to a huge labour shortage, Germany has been encouraging skilled workers from abroad to help fill up the labour market. We look at how many visas are being issued for this purpose. https://www.thelocal.com/20250218/how-many-skilled-worker-visas-are-being-granted-in-germany Tue, 18 Feb 2025 16:13:57 +0100 how-many-skilled-worker-visas-are-being-granted-in-germany Countries in Europe are competing hard to recruit international IT talent. Which Nordic country offers the best prospects to those who have the skills, and how do they compare to Germany? https://www.thelocal.com/20250130/how-does-pay-for-software-developers-in-the-nordic-countries-compare-to-germany Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:18:43 +0100 how-does-pay-for-software-developers-in-the-nordic-countries-compare-to-germany More and more foreigners are leaving Sweden for Germany, with higher salaries, more flexible permits and a stronger currency mentioned as possible reasons. https://www.thelocal.com/20250130/record-number-of-foreigners-quit-sweden-to-move-to-germany Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:56:09 +0100 record-number-of-foreigners-quit-sweden-to-move-to-germany