HDI Jobs Study 2023: Almost one third of professionals in Germany complain about increased work pressure due to staff shortages - Bad supervisors are a reason for quitting for 50 percent of employees

Cologne/Germany, 21.09.2023. Three-fifths of working people in Germany already report the consequences of a shortage of staff and skilled labour in their companies. The most common results are an increasing workload (31 percent), stagnating workflows and processes, and a growing willingness to change jobs (14 percent each). And yet: almost every second employee (44 percent) feels that he or she is not being promoted in the company and 50 percent cannot see any opportunities for advancement. But the study also shows opportunities: Companies with a targeted HR strategy can achieve many advantages in retaining employees as well as attracting new talent.

Jens Warkentin, Chairman of the Board of HDI Germany, explains: "The shortage of skilled workers has now reached the heart of the German economy and will intensify in the coming years as the baby boomers retire. This poses huge challenges for companies in terms of performance, process reliability and customer service."

Good human resources work is crucial for companies

Correlation analyses within the HDI Occupations Study 2023 prove interesting correlations. For example, employees who feel supported by their employer are far more likely than employees who do not feel supported to say that "the job means a lot to them" (58 percent to only 37 percent) and that they "find it meaningful" (57 percent to 38 percent). They are also much more likely to perceive the digital transformation in business and society as helpful (63 percent to 42 percent) and are also much more likely to believe that mobile working will produce better results (48 percent to 37 percent).

Caroline Schlienkamp, Chief Human Resources Officer of the HDI Group and Member of the Board of Management of Talanx AG, sums up: "The current HDI Occupations Study shows the strategic importance of HR work for business success. Only when people feel that their company relies on them, promotes them and develops them further do strong bonds develop. Employers should see the results as an opportunity: Companies with a sustainable and targeted people & culture strategy develop advantages in the competition for the best talents."

Quitting because of bad superiors

Exactly one in two employees in Germany would quit because of bad superiors, among those under 40 as many as 56 percent (45 percent among older employees). Women are more determined than men (53 percent to 48 percent) and more are willing to quit in West Germany than in East Germany (51 percent to 47 percent). It is interesting to note that the salary level has almost no effect on the willingness to quit.

Declining job loyalty - especially among Generation Y

For the first time, less than half of all employed people in Germany say that "their job means a lot to them" (47 percent). This is the lowest figure since the annual HDI Occupations Study was launched in 2019. Compared to 2022 alone (58 percent), this is a drop of around a fifth. Less than half now also agree with the statement that "they cannot imagine a life without a profession." What is interesting here is that the job loyalty of 30 to 44-year-olds (roughly corresponding to "Generation Y") is now the lowest of all generations. Only about one in three (37 percent) would still agree with the statement that "having a job means more to me than earning money with it". This is the lowest value in the age comparison. Even in the generation of 15 to 29 year-olds (roughly "Generation Z"), agreement is significantly higher at 41 percent.

Focus on higher pay and 4-day week

The greatest concern of employees regarding staff shortages in Germany is that the health of employees and the working atmosphere will suffer (35 percent). The second biggest concern, however, is the loss of knowledge ("brain drain") because employees are not replaced or only replaced with delay and thus cannot pass on their knowledge (29 percent).

Employees name higher pay as the best measure for companies to assert themselves in the competition for staff (46 percent). This is followed by the introduction of the 4-day week with full wage compensation (30 percent) and every fourth person also mentions more benefits in addition to salary, such as company pensions or bonus systems (25 percent).

Strong interest in working past retirement age

Higher pay (26 percent) and the 4-day week (25 percent) are also the most frequently mentioned conditions under which employees would work beyond the statutory retirement age. Only a quarter of all employees rule this out for themselves in principle. Within the occupational groups, employees in the IT sector can most often imagine continuing to work, with 82 percent. Regionally, employees in the three city states of Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg are at the top of the list nationwide - with well over 70 percent in each case - who would be willing to work beyond retirement age. The Free State of Saxony, on the other hand, brings up the rear with 54 percent.

Regional differences

Within the federal states of Germany, Berlin stands out with striking results. For example, about one in three people here fear losing their job due to digitalisation and/or artificial intelligence. This is half as high as the average among all employees in Germany.

The HDI Jobs Study is conducted annually throughout Germany in cooperation with the market and opinion research institute YouGov Germany. Due to its scope, it also enables representative statements for the labour market of the individual federal states. This year, a total of 3,864 employed persons aged 15 and over were surveyed in the months of May and June 2023.

About HDI Insurances:
HDI Lebensversicherung AG offers individual advice and solutions in the areas of risk protection and old-age provision. HDI Versicherung AG offers property insurance solutions for private and corporate customers as well as special solutions for the liberal professions. Both companies belong to the Private and Commercial Insurance Germany division of the Talanx Group. With premium income of 53.4 billion euros (2022) and around 24,000 employees, Talanx is one of the largest European insurance groups. Talanx AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the MDax and on the Hanover Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000TLX1005, WKN: TLX100).

For further press information:

Talanx Group Communications
HDI Versicherungen
Hanni Tokgözoglu
Telefon: +49 221 144-3445
mailto:presse@hdi.de

Andreas Krosta
Telefon: +49 511 3747 2020
mailto:presse@hdi.de