Many employees in Germany would like to change employer but stay put for fear of not finding anything new. Here we look at why this happens, why quitting “into nothing” is risky under German rules, how to look for work more effectively and when it is worth considering your own business – for example a Nebengewerbe (side business) alongside your main job.
- One in three employees in Germany would like to change employer, but only 8 % are planning concrete steps (Xing survey, January 2026).
- The job market has become tougher: according to Indeed, the number of job ads fell to a five-year low at the start of 2026.
- Resigning without a new job in many cases leads to a Sperrzeit – up to 12 weeks without unemployment benefit.
- For professionals who have moved to Germany from abroad, finding work is often harder: recognition of qualifications, language and a lack of local contacts play a big role.
- A side income from your own business (a Nebengewerbe or freelancing) lets you test a new direction without losing a stable income.
I want to leave, but I stay: why this happens to so many people
Today, the wish to change jobs and the willingness to actually do it are far apart. According to a survey by the career network Xing of 3,400 employees in Germany (January 2026), 26 % would like to change employer but have not done anything yet. Only 8 % are specifically planning a move in the coming year, while 64 % intend to stay for the long term.
The main reason for staying is stability. It was named by 64 % of respondents, followed by interesting tasks (62 %), pay and colleagues (57 % each). Recognition from the employer, on the other hand, keeps only 39 % in their jobs. In other words, many people stay not because they are happy, but because leaving seems risky.
These fears are not unfounded. According to the Indeed job ads index, the number of vacancies on the market fell by 4.5 % in the first quarter of 2026 – to the lowest level in five years – and by a further 3.9 % in the second quarter. The cuts are particularly noticeable in middle management.
Special points for international professionals in Germany
For people who have moved to Germany, the situation “I want to leave but have nowhere to go” is often felt more acutely. The reasons are mostly structural rather than personal:
- Recognition of qualifications. For a number of professions, a foreign degree must be officially recognised (Anerkennung). Information is available on the portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de.
- Language. For many positions, employers expect confident German – especially in customer-facing and leadership roles.
- Network. In Germany, a significant share of vacancies are filled through recommendations. People who have not lived here long usually lack local contacts.
- Automated screening. Pre-selection systems can filter out CVs on formal grounds – for example because of salary expectations or a career path that is unusual for Germany.
If your residence permit is tied to a specific job or restricts the types of work you may do – as can be the case with an EU Blue Card or a skilled worker permit in the first years – changing employer or starting your own business may require permission. Before taking any steps, check your document and, if necessary, clarify the conditions with the Ausländerbehörde (immigration office). This article is not immigration advice.
Quiet quitting: the danger of “sitting it out”
When someone is unhappy at work but sees no way out, it is easy to get caught in a vicious circle. Occupational psychologists note that it is often not the work itself that weighs people down, but the feeling of having no choice. Rejections and silence from employers erode self-esteem – people begin to underestimate themselves and look for new options less and less actively.
On the outside this shows in different ways. Some slip into what Germans call innere Kündigung (internal resignation, similar to “quiet quitting”): they do only what the contract requires, stop proposing ideas and avoid responsibility. Others keep up a high pace for a long time but pay for it with chronic exhaustion.
If work stress is accompanied by constant fatigue, sleep problems or health issues, the sensible first step is to see a doctor (Hausarzt) – even before making career decisions.
Quitting without a new job: rules people often do not know
In Germany, resigning has consequences that often come as a surprise, especially to people used to different rules.
| Rule | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Sperrzeit (§ 159 SGB III) | If you resign or sign an Aufhebungsvertrag (termination agreement) without a recognised good reason, unemployment benefit (ALG I) is in many cases not paid for up to 12 weeks, and the total benefit period is usually shortened |
| Registering as a job seeker (§ 38 SGB III) | As a rule, no later than three months before the employment ends; if you find out later, within three days |
| Notice period (Kündigungsfrist) | Depends on the contract, collective agreement and the law – check it in advance |
| Health insurance | While you are looking for work, your insurance must continue without gaps; clarify the details with your Krankenkasse (health insurance fund) |
Before resigning or signing an Aufhebungsvertrag, consult a specialist employment lawyer (Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht) or the Agentur für Arbeit.
First, the diagnosis: what exactly is wrong?
Experts advise pinpointing the source of dissatisfaction precisely. The more concretely the problem is defined, the more options usually emerge. Perhaps it is not the company but specific tasks, your manager or your working hours – in which case the solution may be found internally.
- Have your tasks become boring, or did they disappear after a reorganisation? – A conversation about a new area of responsibility may be possible.
- Unhappy with your working hours? – Discuss part-time work, flexitime or working from home.
- Conflict with your manager? – Sometimes a transfer to another department helps.
- The industry or company culture does not suit you? – Then start preparing a move or retraining.
- Want more independence? – You can test the idea of your own business, starting as a side income.
How to look for work more effectively: contacts matter more than the number of CVs
For experienced professionals and managers, sending out CVs en masse works less and less well. Career coaches note that many people have invested in their team and tasks for years while hardly maintaining any external contacts – yet these are exactly what help when changing jobs.
- Industry conferences, regular get-togethers (Stammtisch), events run by the IHK and professional associations.
- Renewed contact with companies you have negotiated with in the past.
- Communities of international professionals in Germany – as a source of experience and recommendations.
- Regularity: one planned meeting or call a week achieves more than sporadic bursts of activity.
Your own business alongside your job: Nebengewerbe and freelancing
Between “staying” and “leaving” there is another route – starting your own business without resigning. This lets you use skills that are not needed in your current job, test the demand for your service and gradually become less dependent on a single employer. According to the KfW-Gründungsmonitor 2026, around 70 % of all new businesses in Germany in 2025 were started precisely as a side income (im Nebenerwerb).
What people usually need to consider
| Question | General principles |
|---|---|
| Employer | Many employment contracts require you to report a side job. The activity must not compete with your employer or interfere with your main job |
| Working hours | Hours in your main job and side business are added together; the Arbeitszeitgesetz (Working Hours Act) limits them to an average of 48 hours per week |
| Registration | A Gewerbe is registered with the Gewerbeamt; liberal professions (Freiberufler) generally register directly with the Finanzamt |
| VAT | Since 2025, the Kleinunternehmerregelung (§ 19 UStG) applies if turnover did not exceed €25,000 in the previous year and does not exceed €100,000 in the current year; in the year of founding, €25,000 is the guide figure |
| Insurance | Whether it counts as a “side activity” depends, among other things, on the time spent and the income; inform your Krankenkasse in advance |
If you already receive Arbeitslosengeld, a side job or self-employment may also be possible, but there are time limits and rules on how income is counted. If you are starting a business as your main occupation from unemployment, the Gründungszuschuss is worth considering. Discuss the conditions with the Agentur für Arbeit in advance.
Comparing the options
| Option | Pros | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Changes within the company | Stability is preserved | Depends on the employer’s willingness |
| Job search without resigning | No gap in income | The search may drag on |
| Resigning “into nothing” | Time for searching and training | Sperrzeit, financial burden |
| Nebengewerbe / freelancing | Testing the idea, extra income | Double workload, contractual restrictions |
| Your own business as your main occupation | Full independence | Entrepreneurial risk, insuring yourself |
Common mistakes
- Resigning impulsively without knowing about the Sperrzeit and without a financial cushion.
- Taking rejections as a verdict on your abilities rather than a consequence of the market situation.
- Starting a Nebengewerbe without checking your employment contract and the conditions of your residence permit.
- Relying only on online applications and ignoring networking.
- “Sitting it out” for months until you no longer have the energy to change anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I resign in Germany and receive benefit straight away?
Can I start a Nebengewerbe while employed?
Do I have to tell my employer about a side job?
What is innere Kündigung?
Does recognition of my qualifications help in the job search?
Where can I get support?
Conclusion
Being unhappy at work is not a sign of weakness but often the result of external changes: restructuring, mergers, a cooling job market. German rules make quitting “into nothing” risky, so it is important to understand the source of the problem first, know about the Sperrzeit and act according to a plan. For some, the way out is a new employer; for others, retraining; and for others still, their own business, which can be started alongside their main job. Read more about changing direction in our article on changing careers in Germany.
Thinking about your own business in Germany?
If you want to find out whether self-employment suits you – as a side income or as your main occupation – and understand registration, business forms and funding programmes, book a personal consultation or join one of our education programmes. Together we will look at your situation and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Book a consultationLegal notice: This article is for general information and educational purposes only and does not replace legal, tax, accounting, financial or immigration advice. Legislation and administrative practice may change; every situation requires individual analysis. Before making important decisions, consult a qualified professional or the competent authority – for example the Agentur für Arbeit, the Finanzamt, the Ausländerbehörde or an employment lawyer. Impressum · Datenschutz
- Handelsblatt: “Was hält Mitarbeiter trotz Unzufriedenheit vom Jobwechsel ab?”, first published 21.08.2026 (data from Xing, Indeed, Civey)
- § 159 SGB III (Sperrzeit), § 38 SGB III (Arbeitsuchendmeldung) – gesetze-im-internet.de
- § 19 UStG (Kleinunternehmerregelung), IHK information on the rules from 2025
- IHK München / IHK Leipzig: Nebenberuflich selbstständig
- KfW-Gründungsmonitor 2026
- anerkennung-in-deutschland.de – portal on the recognition of foreign qualifications
