# German student employment priority shifts

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-student-employment-priority-shifts
> Updated: 2026-11-09T05:30:00.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

A study by consulting firm EY involving over 2,000 students in Germany indicates that job security has overtaken salary as the primary concern for those entering the workforce. Approximately 52 percent of respondents identified a crisis-proof or future-proof workplace as their top priority, a ten-percentage-point increase from 2024.

Salary and potential pay increases rank second at 43 percent. The data shows that female students place a higher emphasis on job security (57 percent) than male students (47 percent). Other factors, such as flexible working hours, have seen a decline in importance. 

EY HR Chief Jan-Rainer Hinz attributed this shift to economic instability, including a multi-year slowdown and fewer entry-level positions. While nominal salary expectations rose slightly to an average of 44,500 euros, inflation-adjusted figures suggest real starting salaries have decreased compared to previous years.

## Claims

- EY surveyed more than 2,000 students across Germany in spring 2026. (reported by 2 sources)
- 52 percent of surveyed students prioritize job security as their most important job criterion. (reported by 2 sources)
- 57 percent of female students prioritize job security compared to 47 percent of male students. (reported by 2 sources)
- Salary and potential raises were ranked second by 43 percent of respondents. (reported by 2 sources)
- Flexible working hours were ranked third by 42 percent of students. (reported by 2 sources)
- In 2024, salary was the top priority for 47 percent of students. (reported by 2 sources)
- Jacqueline Felder is the head of the Kürten branch of Kreissparkasse Köln. (reported by 1 source)

## Timeline

### 2026-11-09: German students prioritize job security over salary in recent survey

A survey of over 2,000 German students shows job security is now a higher priority than salary, according to EY data.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-students-prioritize-job-security-over-salary-in-recent-survey

### 2026-10-27: EY Study: Job security becomes top priority for students

An EY study shows 52% of students now prioritize job security over salary when entering the workforce, driven by economic instability and fewer entry-level opportunities.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/childcare-and-educational-infrastructure-debates-in-germany

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Cite as: German student employment priority shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-student-employment-priority-shifts