Employment in Hannover

New measures have been launched to stimulate economic growth in Hanover in recent years, with these including Hannoverimpuls, which is a joint business development by the city and region of Hanover. This has created new opportunities for expats interested in working in Hanover, with seven sectors in particular being targeted by the scheme: Automotive, Energy Solutions, Information and Communications Technology, Life Sciences, Optical Technologies, Creative Industries and Production Engineering.

Local Economy

Banking and insurance are two of the key local industries in Hanover, and account for the city’s huge economic significance for the entire country, although Germany is famous for its regionalization of growth and power. As a part of the Hannoverimpuls business development scheme, the city maintains international economic relations with Russia, India and Turkey.

Volkswagen is one of the top local employers in the area with a large plant for commercial vehicles located close to the Mittellandkanal and Motorway A2. Other major companies in the city include Sennheiser, Continental AG, and TUI AG.

Several local universities, including Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hanover, Leibniz University Hanover and the School of Veterinary Medicine, attract staff and students from all over the world.

Job Hunting in Hanover

The main German job portal is the Federal Employment Agency and for expats seeking work in Hanover, this is as good a starting point as any. The “Make it in Germany” job exchange can also be a useful place for your job search. Local newspapers like Hannover Zeitung and Hannoversche Allgemeine may also be good places to find jobs in the city.

Qualified technical workers, including engineers and IT specialists, are currently in demand across Germany. The country is also suffering from a shortage of health professionals.

Work Permits for Germany

Any resident of the EU has the right to live and work in Hanover without needing to secure either a visa or a work permit.

Since the introduction of the new German Immigration Act, highly qualified persons can apply for permanent residence and get permission to work in the country. Before that, these individuals were only given residence for a period of five years. To secure permanent residence in Germany, foreigners need to be able to prove that they have a concrete job offer and have to get permission from the German Employment Agency.

Family members also have the chance obtain the right to work in Germany. The nation is making a significant effort to encourage highly skilled people to relocate there.