Skilled Vocational Workers Prefer Automotive Employers
Listing: Top Employers Favored by Skilled Workforce - Listing: Top Employers Preferred by Skilled Professionals
Although many industries are experiencing economic strain, skilled workers are still highly sought after and have the freedom to choose their employers. Trendence Institute, a market research company, asked skilled workers which employer they would "most likely apply to." The results, exclusive to stern, show four car manufacturers placing among the top ten, despite substantial job cuts in the struggling industry.
The popularity of employers often depends on recruitment efforts and public perception, according to Trendence Institute. This explains why large, well-known companies dominate the ranking, with three public institutions also making the top 25, including the German Armed Forces, the police, and surprisingly, the Federal Employment Agency.
When examining sectors as a whole, the public sector leads with 28%, followed by trade with 25%, and the automotive industry with 20%.
Secure Employers Remain a Preference Among Skilled Workers
Trendence Institute has been conducting this survey annually for many years. Two trends can be observed: The attractiveness of secure employers in the public sector, such as customs, police, or the Foreign Office, has diminished since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the Federal Employment Agency has fallen from 12th to 22nd place, and customs from 16th to 32nd. In contrast, trading companies are viewed as more appealing. DM, a drugstore chain, has gained 18 places in the past two years and is now ranked 8th, while Aldi Süd has climbed to 12th place. However, Amazon remains the most popular trading company, maintaining its 3rd position.
Despite the shift, security continues to play a significant role in the choices of skilled workers. "Our numbers show: Skilled workers from the blue-collar labor market are particularly drawn to innovative and stable employers," explains Trendence CEO Robindro Ullah. This appeal is currently attributed to the automotive industry and trade.
The Trendence Institute questioned 20,000 skilled workers online regarding which employers they would most likely apply to. The respondents, on average 35 years old, had completed vocational training, with some still in training or holding master's degrees or having attended vocational schools.
Car Manufacturers Dominate the Preferred Employer List
While the exact Top 10 employer ranking for skilled workers with vocational training in the automotive industry from Trendence Institute’s 2025 annual survey is not publicly available, historically, large, internationally recognized automotive and technology-driven companies like BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Bosch, Continental, ZF Friedrichshafen, Siemens, and Tesla (for its growing presence in Germany) have frequently ranked among the preferred employers in this sector. For the most recent and official ranking, consult Trendence’s published reports.
Community policy may prioritize the promotion of vocational training programs due to the preference of skilled workers for secure employers, often found in industries like automotive and trade. The finance sector could potentially reinforce their recruitment efforts by emphasizing the stability and technological advancements that their businesses offer, making them more appealing to skilled workers undergoing or having completed vocational training.
