Techniker Krankenkasse topped the Stern and Statista ranking of best companies to work for in Germany 2026 with a score of 85.38 out of 100, leaping from 14th place the year before. The annual survey polled over 20,000 employees across 2,600 companies in 24 industries, generating more than one million individual ratings. This article breaks down the full rankings, industry-level standouts, year-over-year shifts, and what Germany’s current labor market means for job seekers in 2026.
Best Companies to Work For in Germany 2026 – TL;DR
Techniker Krankenkasse, a public health insurer, scored 85.38/100 to claim the top spot among the best companies to work for in Germany 2026, dethroning DM Drogeriemarkt. Google Germany (85.00) and Microsoft Deutschland (83.43) took second and third, with Microsoft jumping 25 places from the previous year. The automotive sector dropped sharply — BMW fell from 4th to 14th. Great Place to Work separately named Siemens Healthineers the best large employer in Germany for 2026. Germany’s labor market recorded 3.008 million unemployed and 641,000 open vacancies as of April 2026.
Who Are the Best Companies to Work For in Germany 2026?
The Stern and Statista survey, now in its 12th edition, is the largest annual employer ranking in Germany. Employees rated their own companies and peers in the same sector on over 50 criteria. The key metric: whether they would recommend their employer to friends and family. Only companies with 500 or more employees qualified, and the final list ranked the top 650 out of 2,600 eligible firms.
Techniker Krankenkasse’s rise from rank 14 to the top is the biggest headline. A health insurance fund, not a tech giant or automaker, now leads Germany’s employer rankings. Google Germany held steady near the top, moving up one spot to second. Microsoft Deutschland made the largest climb among the top five, surging from 28th to 3rd place.
| Rank | Company | Score (out of 100) | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Techniker Krankenkasse | 85.38 | 14 |
| 2 | Google Germany | 85.00 | 3 |
| 3 | Microsoft Deutschland | 83.43 | 28 |
| 4 | Adidas | 83.23 | 2 |
| 5 | Airbus | 82.67 | 15 |
Source: Stern & Statista, Germany’s Best Employers 2026
How Did the Rankings Change From 2025 to 2026?
The year-over-year shifts tell a clear story. DM Drogeriemarkt, which led the 2025 ranking with a score of 88.00, no longer appears in the top five. Adidas slipped from 2nd to 4th. The automotive industry, long a fixture in the upper ranks, saw its top names slide. BMW dropped from 4th to 14th. Porsche and Audi, which held 5th and 6th in 2025, also fell out of the top ten.
On the other side, companies like Airbus climbed ten places from 15th to 5th. Microsoft’s jump of 25 positions was the most dramatic among major employers. The data reflects a broader pattern: tech companies and employers that invest in flexible work environments gained ground, while traditional manufacturing brands lost it.
| Company | 2025 Rank | 2026 Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Techniker Krankenkasse | 14 | 1 | +13 |
| Microsoft Deutschland | 28 | 3 | +25 |
| Airbus | 15 | 5 | +10 |
| DM Drogeriemarkt | 1 | Below Top 5 | – |
| BMW | 4 | 14 | -10 |
| Porsche | 5 | Below Top 10 | – |
| Audi | 6 | Below Top 10 | – |
Source: Stern & Statista, Germany’s Best Employers 2025 & 2026
Best Companies to Work For in Germany by Industry (2026)
The Stern and Statista survey also segmented results by sector. Microsoft Germany led the IT and telecommunications category. In the automotive sector, BMW retained its top industry position despite its overall ranking drop. The insurance sector was led by Provinzial Versicherungsgruppe, which reached 47th overall. Munich Re and Volkswohl Bund followed.
The Coroplast Group ranked 40th overall and 3rd in the automotive and suppliers category, competing against much larger names like Porsche and Bosch. For employees considering a career switch, industry-level data can matter more than the overall list. Workers in healthcare, insurance, and IT reported the strongest year-over-year gains in employer satisfaction.
| Industry | Top Employer (2026) |
|---|---|
| IT & Telecommunications | Microsoft Germany |
| Automotive & Suppliers | BMW |
| Insurance (Private) | Provinzial Versicherungsgruppe |
| Insurance (Public) | Techniker Krankenkasse |
| Aerospace | Airbus |
| Sportswear | Adidas |
Source: Stern & Statista, Germany’s Best Employers 2026
Great Place to Work: Best Employers in Germany 2026
A second major ranking — Great Place to Work Deutschland — named its own top 100 employers on March 19, 2026. This competition drew a record 1,141 applicants, up from 1,080 the previous year. Surveys ran between November 2024 and October 2025, with three-quarters of the score based on anonymous employee feedback across 24 focus areas.
Siemens Healthineers held the top spot among large companies (5,000+ employees) for the second consecutive year. Techniker Krankenkasse came second in this category, and Allianz placed third. In the 2,001–5,000 employee bracket, pharmaceutical firm AbbVie ranked first, moving up from third the year before. Vector, a software tools company based in Stuttgart, earned the top position in its size class in the prior edition, with 95% of its employees agreeing the company is a very good place to work.
| Size Category | #1 Employer | #2 Employer | #3 Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000+ employees | Siemens Healthineers | Techniker Krankenkasse | Allianz |
| 2,001–5,000 | AbbVie | – | – |
| 50–100 | CPC Unternehmensmanagement | Bewo Plus Jugendhilfe | Allgäu Batterie |
Source: Great Place to Work Deutschland, March 2026
Germany’s Job Market in 2026: Key Numbers
Germany’s labor market is under pressure. The unemployment rate stood at 6.4% in April 2026, its highest level since July 2020. The Bundesagentur für Arbeit reported 3.008 million unemployed in April, up 77,000 compared to a year earlier. Registered job vacancies fell to 641,000 — down 5,000 year-over-year.
The ifo Employment Barometer dropped to 91.3 in April 2026, the lowest reading since May 2020. Four in ten industrial companies planned additional layoffs. At the same time, 163 occupations still face qualified worker shortages, particularly in healthcare, IT, skilled trades, and engineering. Total employment in Germany reached 45.52 million in March 2026, though the figure has been declining by an average of 16,000 per month since May 2025.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4% | April 2026 |
| Unemployed Persons | 3.008 million | April 2026 |
| Registered Job Vacancies | 641,000 | April 2026 |
| Total Employment | 45.52 million | March 2026 |
| ifo Employment Barometer | 91.3 | April 2026 |
| Shortage Occupations | 163 | 2026 |
Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), ifo Institute
What Makes the Best Companies to Work For in Germany Stand Out?
The Stern/Statista methodology scored employers across seven categories: workload and balance, salary and benefits, corporate image, career development, leadership, team environment, and job security. The employee recommendation rate — a 0–10 scale asking whether they’d suggest their company to others — carried the most weight. Companies needed at least 500 employees to qualify, and respondents could rate both their own employer and competitors in their sector.
Techniker Krankenkasse, for example, employs roughly 15,000 people and operates as a non-profit health insurer. Its top ranking likely reflects strong scores on work-life balance and job security, areas where public-sector adjacent employers typically outperform. Google and Microsoft, meanwhile, tend to score highest on career development and compensation. These differences in what employees value help explain why such varied companies can all rank near the top.
Which Sectors Are Hiring in Germany in 2026?
Despite the overall slowdown, specific sectors remain hungry for talent. Healthcare leads the shortage list, driven by an aging population and chronic understaffing. IT and software development roles still face supply gaps, with senior developers commanding salaries between €85,000 and €130,000. Engineering positions, especially in renewable energy and infrastructure, pay above €100,000 for experienced professionals.
The automotive sector tells a different story. Roughly 51,000 auto industry jobs were cut in 2025, and the trend continued into 2026. Volkswagen, BMW, and other manufacturers have been restructuring amid rising competition from Chinese EV makers and shifting consumer demand. Workers in skilled trades — welding, electrical work, truck driving — continue to find steady demand, with apprenticeship starting salaries above €4,000 per month in many programs. For professionals working remotely in Germany, the tech and consulting sectors offer the most flexible arrangements.
How Are German Employers Ranked?
Two main surveys produce the most widely cited employer rankings in Germany each year. The Stern and Statista study uses independent online panels to survey around 20,000 employees. Workers rate their own employers and other companies in their industry on a 0–10 recommendation scale, plus over 50 additional criteria. The top 650 out of 2,600 eligible employers make the list. The survey for the 2026 edition ran from May to July 2025.
Great Place to Work takes a different approach. Companies must apply to participate, and the evaluation combines anonymous employee surveys (75% of the score) with a culture audit of HR programs (25%). The 2026 cycle drew 1,141 applicants — a new record. Both rankings agree on certain names, like Techniker Krankenkasse, but their methods produce different lists. Provinzial Versicherungsgruppe ranked 47th in the Stern/Statista survey but did not appear in the Great Place to Work top tier. Workers looking for a fulfilling remote position at these companies should check individual career pages for hybrid and home-office options.
FAQ
What is the best company to work for in Germany in 2026?
Techniker Krankenkasse ranked first in the Stern and Statista 2026 survey with a score of 85.38 out of 100, based on over 20,000 employee responses.
Which tech companies are the best employers in Germany?
Google Germany (2nd overall, 85.00 score) and Microsoft Deutschland (3rd, 83.43 score) lead the tech sector. Microsoft jumped 25 places from the 2025 ranking.
How many companies were ranked in the 2026 survey?
Stern and Statista evaluated 2,600 companies and ranked the top 650 across 24 industries. Great Place to Work received 1,141 applications and awarded 100 employers.
What is Germany’s unemployment rate in 2026?
Germany’s unemployment rate stood at 6.4% in April 2026, with 3.008 million people registered as unemployed and 641,000 open job vacancies.
Are automotive companies still top employers in Germany?
Automotive employers dropped sharply. BMW fell from 4th to 14th in the overall ranking. Porsche and Audi exited the top ten after holding 5th and 6th in 2025.
Sources:
https://rankings.statista.com/en/employers/rankings/best-employers-germany-2026/
