The harsh reality for German graduates: four months to find an entry-level job

Press release
The harsh reality for German graduates: four months to find an entry-level job

• From optimism to disillusionment: 76% of students in Germany are optimistic about their careers before graduating — but 56% of young professionals struggle with the job search
• From lecture hall to reality: Master’s graduates take on average two months longer than Bachelor’s graduates to find their first job
• Practical experience is the most important factor when entering the job market, yet fewer than half of companies offer corresponding entry-level opportunities

Düsseldorf, May 7^th, 2026 – When students enter the German job market, optimism quickly gives way to disillusionment. Master's graduates spend an average of 21 weeks searching for an entry-level job — more than two months longer than bachelor's graduates, who find a job after 13 weeks on average. These are the findings of a recent Stepstone survey on early-career professionals in the labour market.
"Entering Germany’s job market has become much harder for many young people, because expectations and reality are pulling apart. Companies say they urgently need young talent — but then expect hands-on experience that graduates can really only gain on the job," says Dr. Christina Langer, Senior Economist and labour market researcher at The Stepstone Group.

Companies need young talent but offer too few entry-level opportunities

For many graduates, practical experience is crucial for starting their careers. 41% of respondents say internships or part-time roles during their studies significantly helped them enter the job market. For almost one in three (34%), such a role led directly to a job offer.
But the Stepstone analysis shows a growing mismatch: although 73% of companies report a significant shortage of young talent, fewer than half offer the entry-level roles to address it. Only 46% hire working students or interns, and just 19% offer trainee programmes.

Demanding requirements make entry even harder

On top of the experience gap, the requirements listed in many job ads add to the hurdle. 67% of young professionals say entry-level positions often include unrealistic requirements they struggle to meet. Applications also frequently go unanswered — 71% say they regularly hear nothing back. And 54% feel their skills aren't in demand.

The result: while 76% of students are still optimistic about their careers before graduating, reality often hits hard once they enter the job market. 56% of young professionals say the job search is difficult.
“For many young professionals, entering the job market is a rude awakening,” says Langer. “Companies that want to attract young talent need to lower the barriers to entry and actively create opportunities to gain experience on the job. That's what will decide which companies have the workforce they need in the years ahead.”

About the survey 
For the “Entry Level Jobs” study, Stepstone and Studydrive surveyed around 4,500 people in Germany in November 2025, including 754 students, 331 young professionals and 455 HR decision-makers. The online survey examined companies’ willingness to hire young talent, the career expectations of students and young professionals, and the perceived job security of different fields of study. The overall sample is representative of the working population in Germany by age, gender and education; students, young professionals and HR decision-makers are analysed as separate subgroups. In this study, young professionals are defined as university graduates with less than three years of professional experience.

About The Stepstone Group 
The Stepstone Group is a leading global digital recruitment platform that connects companies with the right talent and helps people find the right job. AI-driven job marketplaces and programmatic-powered marketing solutionsconnect more than 130 million job applications with about 130,000 employers every year. The Stepstone Group operates in more than 10 countries - including Stepstone in Germany, Appcast in the USA and Totaljobs in the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs about 3,000 people worldwide. For more information: www.thestepstonegroup.com/english  

Contact
The Stepstone Group Media Relations 
press@stepstone.com