Germany: The Challenges of Career Counselling in Germany

Industry 4.0, demographic change, integration of migrants, and shortage of skilled workers—these keywords are ubiquitous in the German media. Moreover, they are central to the guidance services offered by the Federal Employment Agency, which faces several key challenges in its special status amongst guidance actors in Germany. But what do they mean in concrete terms for career guidance in the employment agencies and job centres? The legal mandate of the Federal Employment Agency and thus of career guidance comes with the responsibility to accompany and support changes in the world of work and to offer people orientation when they enter or re-enter working life. What demands will they face, and what skills should they invest in? What are tomorrow’s opportunities, and what is necessary to seize them? Expert career guidance also plays an important role against the threatening backdrop of an increasing shortage of skilled workers. As the central career guidance organisation in Germany, the Federal Employment Agency is confronted with all these issues at different points. In this chapter, the authors give an insight into three areas of work and their focus, which are influenced by the topics just mentioned.