
Never mind, I’ll find someone like you who sings Adele in one of her more famous songs. She must hope these are prophetic words, as they are appropriate: the singer is still searching hard. And this time, not for love like in the song, but for enough staff. Next month, she will give no less than 10 concerts in Munich, her first in Europe in years, and a complete stadium for 80,000 visitors is being built for it. However, experienced people are hard to find when setting up and dismantling the enormous concert hall.
Whether you are available for just a few days or longer, Live Department in the South German city welcomes all hands. ‘We offer both summer jobs and part-time positions for those who can handle the workload. Experience with forklift operation, height work such as scaffolding, and steel construction is advantageous, but anyone familiar with and appreciative of festival work is welcome,’ according to the job posting, which is still online. The minimum requirement is a B1 level in German. In exceptional cases, very good English may also suffice. Accommodation can also be arranged upon consultation.
Broader Trend
It signals a broader trend, according to the leading German publication Focus. Although unemployment is currently rising in Germany, experienced workers are hardly available. And they are needed for unique projects like this temporary stadium. Earlier this year, the German government organized an official top conference to discuss staff shortages. Labour force participation in Germany was higher than ever before in 2023. Also, last year, a sort of ‘points system’ was introduced to make it easier for German companies to temporarily hire staff from abroad.
Fortunately, there is also good news for stage builders in Munich. It has previously been shown that staff shortages lead to higher absenteeism. And that is also true in Germany. However, research conducted by Randstad over 10 years ago by R2 Research shows that there is a good remedy for this: music. Of the employees surveyed, 71% believe that productivity increases with music at work. And 50% think that music leads to fewer sick calls. Which music was mentioned as the most healing? It’s obvious… Adele’s, of course, Adele’s music.
Also to Germany?
Are you a Dutch company interested in helping solve the German staff shortages? Werf& is organizing the first Webinar Tage in September in collaboration with its international sister, totalent.eu. The webinars will be free for the German-speaking DACH audience to watch. Click here for more information:
Photo Credit: Adele, during the last time she performed in Europe, in 2016