- Thuringia is supporting highly qualified personnel with millions
Thuringia supports companies and research institutions in hiring highly qualified professionals. Around three million euros are available for this purpose this year, the Ministry of Economics told the German Press Agency. A wage subsidy of up to 48,000 euros per employee will be paid for a maximum of two years - that's up to 2,000 euros per month. The aim of the funding is to accelerate the development of new products and processes, said State Secretary Katja Böhler. "This requires good working conditions and an attractive salary." The procedure at the Thuringian Development Bank is lean and unbureaucratic. "Every company knows within a short time whether its application for funding has been successful."
Successes of the funding since 2021
So far, 40 applications for such wage subsidies have been received this year. Of these, 25 have already been approved, and 15 are currently being processed. The prerequisite for funding is that the new employees have a university degree and are hired on an unlimited basis. They must also be employed in a demonstrably innovative project, such as research, the development of new products and processes, or marketing and sales of new products.
This funding offer is financed from EU and state funds. The program has been in existence since 2021 and has already funded the hiring of 75 highly qualified employees in Thuringian companies. Around 3.5 million euros have been spent for this purpose.
Funding innovative personnel is one of many building blocks for securing skilled workers in the Free State. According to a study by the Ifo Institute Dresden, it will become increasingly difficult in the coming years to find replacements for departing employees in Thuringia. The skilled worker potential in the Free State is largely exhausted, the study said. By 2035, a total of 385,000 employees will leave the workforce and retire.
- To further enhance the effectiveness of the funding, it would be beneficial to explore the possibility of extending it to include areas like 'employment and social security', ensuring that the highly qualified employees also receive adequate benefits and secure working conditions.
- Post-employment, these highly qualified individuals could also benefit from comprehensive 'employment and social security' schemes, ensuring their financial security in their retirement years.
