The volume of direct job placements facilitated by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) has significantly declined over the past year, according to figures released by the Federal Ministry of Labor and cited by “Bild”.
Data indicates that in 2024, only 4.9% of transitions from unemployment benefits (including citizen’s allowance) to regular employment were initiated by the BA’s direct placement proposals. This represents a substantial decrease from 13.2% recorded in 2015.
Overall, approximately 6.7 million individuals exited unemployment benefit programs in 2024. Of those, 30.3% entered employment and 27.7% secured roles in the standard labor market. The figures originate from a response to a request from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group.
Simultaneously, the number of employment placement specialists has diminished. In 2024, 13,942 full-time positions were dedicated to this role, compared to 19,593 in 2015. Consequently, the number of successful direct placements per placement specialist decreased from roughly 15 to approximately six annually during the same period.
Despite this reduction in dedicated placement roles, the Federal Employment Agency’s total headcount has increased to 101,000, up from 96,300 in 2015. Personnel costs have also risen significantly, from €3.9 billion to €5.58 billion annually. The agency notes that costs associated with Job Center staff are not included in this calculation.
A spokesperson for the BA acknowledged the changing landscape of the labor market, stating, “Our working methods have changed significantly due to developments in the labor market in recent years”. They emphasized that the placement rate represents “only a small aspect” of the “diverse support services” offered.