Germany's Private Sector Falls Short on Disability Hiring as New Job-Carving Plan Aims to Close Gap
Published on 07/05/2026 at 08:35 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Only 38 percent of private companies in Lower Saxony meet their legal obligation to employ people with disabilities, according to figures released alongside a new ten-point strategy presented on 3 July. The state's Social Ministry, together with associations, unveiled the plan centred on Job-Carving — a method that tailors job profiles to individual applicants' abilities rather than forcing candidates into existing roles. The initiative also includes wage subsidies of up to €50,000 per year, though concrete targets for new positions were not set.
The public sector performs significantly better, with a compliance rate of 50 percent, but still leaves room for improvement. "There is clearly a gap, and the private sector has a lot of catching up to do," a ministry spokesperson commented during the presentation.
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Outside government, specialised consultancies are stepping in. On 4 July, the accessibility-focused advisory firm myAbility launched a German subsidiary based in Munich, led by Nora Bilz and Michael Aumann. The company’s job platform already attracts 30,000 monthly users and works with around 350 corporate clients — a sign of growing demand for inclusion expertise.
On the training front, the organisation Hephata in Schwalmstadt has started a cooperative programme bringing nursing trainees from Morocco. Of the first cohort of 20 apprentices, 16 remain in the programme; graduation is expected in September 2026.
Structural barriers persist, however. The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) identified lack of prior knowledge as the biggest obstacle among 70 percent of unemployed people seeking further training. Health issues and lack of childcare each hinder participation for half of those affected, while 37 percent of job centre staff report a shortage of part-time offerings.
Legal hurdles also complicate inclusion. The Hamburg Regional Labour Court dismissed a lawsuit on 4 July from a severely disabled job applicant who demanded €10,000 in compensation. The court ruled that mere assumptions do not constitute evidence of discrimination — concrete indications are required.
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Meanwhile, an internal government paper floats cuts to child and youth welfare as well as integration assistance, which would affect school support and services for young adults. The Paritätische Gesamtverband called any such reduction a "severe cutback."
In a countermove, the ESF Working Group Pforzheim adopted a labour market strategy on 3 July for 2026 and 2027, with a focus on social inclusion and lifelong learning. Project calls are already open through 2028.
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