Education Germany is known worldwide for its education system. Here you can find out how the German education system works. Your children are well looked after Parents can go about their professional occupations with commitment and focus without worrying about their little ones. In March 2024, about 60,662 public and private day care facilities were available in Germany. Child care in Germany begins at an early age: In 2024 more than one third of the children aged 0 to 3 were supervised in a day-care facility, so their parents would be able to pursue their career aspirations. In the age group of 3 to 6 years, which includes schoolchildren as well, the proportion of all children looked after was as high as 91 per cent. Child care is also firmly anchored in integration and inclusion. In 2024 more than 41 per cent of care facilities were kindergartens with integrative care. For children with disabilities, a total of 220 facilities were available. Education for everyone The German education and training system is world-renowned. In the 2023-2024 school year, around 32,700 schools throughout Germany gave all children of school age access to education. Around half of them (47.3%) were primary schools. At the secondary education level, there were numerous Hauptschulen (5.2%), Realschulen (5.2%) and Gymnasien (9.6%). After successfully completing your schooling, you have the possibility of either embarking on a vocational training course or enrol at one of Germany’s 428 higher education

Qualified professionals Certain professions in Germany are in high demand. Discover in which industries professionals have great opportunities! Skilled labour shortages in German companies – Which occupations are in demand? Germany currently does not suffer from a shortage of skilled workers on a national scale, however in some occupational fields and regions, there is a scarcity of qualified professionals. Occupations in the sciences, engineering, and in health care are affected the most. The staffing difficulties occurring in the different sectors also strongly depend on the level of qualification. A distinction is made between three groups: skilled professionals are persons who have completed at least two years of vocational training or a comparable qualification; specialists are workers with a master craftsperson's or technician's training, an academic degree or a comparable qualification; experts are persons who have at least a four-year university education or equivalent qualification. The current skilled worker shortage in specific occupational groups or regions cannot be reduced in its entirety with the available supply of labour. For instance, there is a lack of skilled workers in geriatric nursing, specialists in general nursing care and experts in IT occupations such as software development and programming. Many vacancies in vocational training remain open Aside from the automotive sector, Germany is known worldwide for its exceptional dual education system in companies

Bank account How do I open a bank account in Germany? We explain what you need to consider when opening an account. If you plan on living in Germany long term, you require a German bank account ( current account ) to rent a flat or to receive your salary via bank transfer, for instance. But you will also be able to use your debit card (Girokarte) in your day-to-day life, for example, to pay at the supermarket. You can use you debit card in other countries in Europe which use the euro as currency as well. Cashless payments If you wish to pay without cash in Germany, you can do so with a credit card or a so-called Girokarte. The Girokarte works similarly to a debit card, and many banks provide it free of charge with opening the current account. For a credit card, however, you will usually be charged a fee. The main difference between the two cards is the billing cycle. While payments with a debit card are immediately debited against your account, credit card payments are debited collectively at the end of the month. In your everyday life in Germany, a debit card is sufficient. But for purchases requiring the payment of a deposit, you will most likely need a credit card. Some exemplary cases are booking a hotel room or renting a car. If you shop online, you can also transfer the money via credit card, instant bank transfer (Sofortüberweisung), Giropay (an internet payment system based on online banking) or PayPal. Opening a bank account To open a bank account, you generally require

Additional insurances Safety first: find out which insurances you should take out in Germany. Liability insurance Liability insurance pays if you damage or destroy another person's belongings. For example, if you break a vase or spill coffee on a friend's smartphone. Most Germans have that kind of insurance because it is inexpensive and protects you from having to pay for the damage with your own money. Household contents insurance This insurance covers all items inside your house or flat. For example, household contents insurance pays if furniture and clothing are stolen or damaged by fire, storm or water. The cost of household insurance depends on the size of your home, among other things. Accident insurance You are a member of the statutory accident insurance scheme through your employer. This means that you are covered in the event of an accident at work or on your way to work. Private accident insurance is a good way to protect yourself against accidents when you are not at work. This covers the financial consequences of an accident, for example, if you become disabled and are no longer able to work. You can also arrange benefits for the rehabilitation of your health, which are not covered by statutory health insurance. Occupational disability insurance Occupational disability insurance covers you if you are no longer able to work for health reasons. If you are diagnosed with an occupational disability, the insurance will pay you an agreed monthly pension. Occupational