Outlook for temporary work in 2025

Managing Director of the DEKRA Arbeit Group

Suzana Bernhard

Did 2024 meet your expectations?

Without question, 2024 was also a very difficult and challenging year for the personnel services industry. However, this was a conclusion that had to be expected based on the previous year's forecasts and stagnating economic data in Germany. Especially as the faint hope that the federal government, which has since failed, would counteract the general trend with targeted measures and, in particular, actively support sectors that are under even greater pressure in many respects, was unfortunately disappointed once again.

However, as the DEKRA Arbeit Group has already experienced numerous crises in almost 25 years and overcome them together with our customers and employees, we have once again managed to use our experience, strong teamwork and new ideas to at least preserve what has always made us special: strength through loyalty, partnership and cohesion. After all, it is not only in good economic times that companies and jobseekers need to be presented with effective support solutions. Quite the opposite. Especially in difficult times, it is crucial to accept the situation, find new approaches and offer positive support to everyone involved.

If, for example, companies are no longer able to immediately fill the positions of employees who are retiring due to the uncertain economic situation, flexible personnel models must be put in place at an early stage to ensure smooth operations in the event of a corresponding need or a sudden increase in orders. The same applies, for example, in the event of a strategic realignment, if certain business areas stagnate, have to be reduced in the medium term or need to be realigned for the future. These developments also require intensive support and must be implemented professionally on the HR side in order to actively involve valuable specialists and managers in this change process and to retain them in the company. Only with the help of a targeted, individual analysis of potential will this step be successful and make a significant contribution to successful personnel restructuring.

We have developed customer-specific HR support solutions for all of these needs, which have always existed but have been increasingly called upon in the past year, and have expanded our portfolio in line with the situation and labor market. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we were also affected by the economic situation last year, but never lost our confidence and our usual optimistic view of the future.

What will 2025 bring for temporary work?

A good question that I have recently discussed with numerous people and contacts from different areas. And most of them are very similar to me in that it has probably never been so difficult to make a truly reliable forecast. A lot will simply depend on what awaits us politically, both nationally and internationally. What measures and punitive tariffs already announced during the election campaign will the new US government implement from January - and how much of a burden will this place on international trade relations? What are the results of the German parliamentary elections - and in which government constellation will the major issues of the future, including economic ones, be tackled? Will the international community succeed in contributing to a peaceful solution in Ukraine and the Middle East?

All of these issues have a direct impact on the general mood and economic situation and can also significantly change the development of the temporary staffing industry, both positively and negatively. It is therefore more difficult than ever to accurately analyze what to expect in the coming weeks and months.

Irrespective of this, however, there are also a few irrefutable questions about the future that, far removed from global politics and the overall economic situation, are facing us and the labor market in Germany. Probably the biggest challenge lies in coping with the future demand for employees and skilled workers, which will definitely increase due to demographic developments. This is a problem that can be solved by targeted migration of skilled workers, which raises major questions, especially for smaller, medium-sized companies and companies that operate on a purely national or Europe-wide basis.

This is precisely why we at the DEKRA Arbeit Group have had this topic firmly on our agenda for several years and have specifically expanded our international network to meet this need. Since October 2024, our Group has also included our colleagues from DEKRA Expert Migration, who are working with us to further expand the necessary structures, professionally complement our expertise as a personnel service provider and, for example, accelerate the migration process enormously with their own language schools in Germany and abroad. Our common goal in the coming year is to offer both skilled workers and employees from non-European countries and employers in Germany even more effective, comprehensive and trustworthy support, providing professional assistance at all stages from the early matching of both sides in advance, to German courses for candidates in their home country, a smooth recognition and entry procedure and the final integration process in the company. For us at least, this is one of the most important goals for the year 2025, which does not require a forecast or depend on other global political developments. We simply need to set the right course now and move forward with a great deal of passion and real solution options to secure our personnel future in the long term.

Everything else will become a little clearer in the coming weeks. But whatever happens or however it comes, we will look forward unwaveringly and do our best for the job market, our employees and our customers. That much is certain!