The economically difficult situation of recent months has also affected the startup scene. According to a current survey by the digital association Bitkom, German startups currently have an average of 13 employees. A year ago, this figure was still 15. This shows a decline of two employees within twelve months.
Despite this development, signs now point to recovery. On average, each surveyed startup currently has two open positions to fill. This indicates a trend toward new hiring that could lead the scene back into a growth phase.
The data is based on a survey of 152 tech startups in Germany. The survey was conducted by Bitkom Research on behalf of the digital association. While the survey is not representative, it still provides meaningful insights into the mood within the tech industry.
Bitkom president Ralf Wintergerst comments:
“The general economic uncertainty has not gone unnoticed by many startups. Now, employee numbers are also showing signs of growth again.”
Founders expect growth
The vast majority of surveyed founders look optimistically toward the future. Three-quarters (75 percent) of startups expect their workforce to grow in 2025. Only 2 percent expect a decline. This shows that the scene is banking on hiring growth, even though the economic environment remains characterized by uncertainty.
The survey questions aimed to capture current employee numbers including founders, quantify open positions, and provide a forecast for the current year. The results provide insight into the expectations of young tech companies and show that staffing matters are coming back into focus for many founders.
