According to the survey, six out of ten startups currently have vacancies, with an average of four positions to fill. This indicates a trend reversal: Currently, the average number of employees is 14. A year ago, it was 20. The president of Bitkom, Achim Berg, says:
"Many startups have recently been forced to cut costs. In addition, given the increasing shortage of skilled workers, many large and medium-sized companies are also competing for startups' sought-after tech experts—making things more difficult for startups."
Majority of startups need new people
According to Bitkom, almost two-thirds of startups currently have a maximum of nine employees. 17 percent of young companies have ten to 19 employees, and another 17 percent have at least 20 employees. A full 80 percent of startups expect to increase their workforce over the course of the year. Only one percent anticipates staff reductions in 2023. Eleven percent expect stable employment, and seven percent did not provide an answer.
According to the digital association, politics can also support the positive outlook. With the Federal Cabinet’s already approved Skilled Immigration Act and the planned Future Financing Act offer an opportunity to attract and retain skilled workers. Berg explains:
“Faster and simplified visa processes and attractive tax conditions for employee participation compared to other countries are powerful levers to support the growth of the German startup ecosystem.”
