Record Employee Dissatisfaction in Germany Costs Companies Billions

A recent survey reveals a historic rise in employee dissatisfaction in Germany, with 68% of workers considering changing jobs multiple times a month, the highest rate recorded to date. This represents an increase from 63% in 2023 and just above 50% in 2021, indicating growing unrest within the workforce. The survey, conducted by Stepstone and reported by 'Welt', included over 6,800 employees and 1,000 recruiters.

The primary drivers of dissatisfaction include stagnant wages failing to keep pace with inflation and limited opportunities for personal development, cited by 47% of respondents. Additionally, 43% express a desire for more feedback from their employers, and over one-third feel their ideas are insufficiently acknowledged. Nearly one-quarter of employees lack a sense of meaning in their work, with this figure rising to one in three among Generation Z.

Despite this dissatisfaction, the German job market remains weak. The Federal Employment Agency reports an average of only 635,000 job openings from January to September 2025, an over 8% decline from the previous year, particularly impacting the industrial and financial sectors. Demand remains steady in logistics, transport, nursing, and healthcare.

The economic consequences are severe: studies from the ifo Institute estimate that disengaged employees cause multi-billion euro losses for companies. Gallup quantifies the annual economic damage due to poor emotional attachment between employees and employers at approximately 113 billion euros. Julius Probst, Senior Economist at The Stepstone Group, emphasizes that budget cuts and insufficient wage growth push employees to seek better opportunities, yet the sluggish job market limits their choices. Probst recommends that employees clearly communicate their needs to supervisors and HR departments, while companies should cultivate supportive- and attentive work cultures to retain talent.

Further complicating the economic picture, German companies show varied performance in corporate transformation efforts. According to research by Metzler Asset Management, which employs around 25 indicators based on standards from WWF Deutschland and PwC, some German firms demonstrate ambitious goals and high transparency, distinguishing themselves positively. However, the overall German economy lags behind other European nations, placing in the lower middle tier in transformation performance.

This mixed corporate progress, combined with record employee dissatisfaction and a tough job market, presents significant challenges for German businesses. Addressing these issues holistically will be critical for maintaining competitiveness and economic stability going forward.