The shortage of skilled workers in Germany is leading many startups to increasingly focus on international applicants. This also has consequences for communication within the company. Meanwhile, 59 percent of startups no longer require employees to demonstrate German language skills. In about half of the startups (54 percent), English is even the official company language. This is the result of a Bitkom survey among 203 tech startups in Germany.
71 percent of the startups surveyed also stated that they would specifically benefit from a simplified influx of qualified workers from outside Europe. The Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst says:
"The German startup scene is globally oriented and a magnet for international talent. Existing barriers to attracting specialists from abroad must therefore be completely and quickly removed."
The survey on corporate language is part of the "Startup Report 2023," published by the digital association Bitkom. The "Startup Report 2023" provides an overview of the German startup scene's assessment of the economic situation, employment trends, and financing conditions. It also includes studies on the use of innovative technologies and the evaluation of startup policy. Winter barley says:
"It's not just the shortage of skilled workers that poses challenges for German startups. Current developments, from inflation and interest rate policy to sluggish growth, are taking their toll on many founders. It's important that the promises of startup support remain valid, especially in more difficult times, and that we succeed in not only maintaining but further strengthening the startup ecosystem in Germany that we have painstakingly built up over the past few years."
The “Startup Report 2023” is available for free download on the digital association’s website.
