Youth, foreigners and women mostly affected. According to the Statistics Office of Wiesbaden (which doesn’t differentiate fixed-term contracts with a particular reason and those without), the total number of fixed-term contracts soared since the reunification. Nearly 2.7 million workers (out of a total of 30.7 million) had a fixed-term contract in 2008, i.e. 8.9%, against 5.7% in 1991. The German Labor Market and Employment Research Institute (IAB) says this rate is even higher for new recruitments. In the first 2009 quarter, it amounted to 47% as opposed to 32% in 2001. The scope of the phenomenon varies with people, professional categories and sectors. The groups mostly affected are the youth and foreigners and, to a lesser extent, women. Thus, according to the Statistics Office (which doesn’t include apprentices), around 40% of 15-20 year olds and 25% of 20-25 year olds had a fixed-term contract in 2008. 13.6% of foreign workers had a fixed-term contract as well, as opposed to 8.5% for German employees. The sectors that appeal to fixed-term contracts the most are “new services” as well as temporary work, industrial cleaning and security and safety services. In most cases, the contracts last up to 24 months. The Wiesbaden office says only 2.5% of employees with a fixed-term contract wanted it.
ed are the youth and foreigners and, to a lesser extent, women. Thus, according to the Statistics Office (which doesn’t include apprentices), around 40% of 15-20 year olds and 25% of 20-25 year olds had a fixed-term contract in 2008. 13.6% of foreign workers had a fixed-term contract as well, as opposed to 8.5% for German employees. The sectors that appeal to fixed-term contracts the most are “new services” as well as temporary work, industrial cleaning and security and safety services. In most
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