Minimum wage of €13.90 an hour in 2026 (€14.60 from January 2027), unemployment of 3.8% – well below the EU average – and 157 occupations short of skilled workers, from nursing and construction to cooks and drivers. Find out where to look for a job, how to apply in German and what to do in your first weeks.
Germany is a country of 83.5 million people with an employment rate well above the EU average: 81.1% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).
Unemployment has risen slowly in recent years – from 3.1% in 2022 to 3.8% in 2025 – but it is still far below the EU average of 6.0%. Young people have good chances too: youth unemployment (15–24) is 7.1%, less than half the EU rate of 15.2%.
As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen you do not need a visa or a work permit – a valid passport or ID card is enough to move, look for work and start a job. For most jobs you will need German: employers expect applications in German, and you may have to translate your certificates.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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