The Harz region is much more than just Germany's northernmost low mountain range and a popular vacation destination. As an economic region spanning several federal German states – including parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia – the region serves as an industrial and technological hub in the heart of Germany. This "border triangle" offers a wide range of opportunities for international specialists. While major cities struggle with high costs of living, the Harz region stands out thanks to a combination of recession-proof industrial jobs and a high quality of life.
A strong economic foundation: industries and top employers
The economic structure of the Harz region is characterized by a mix of long-established small and medium-sized businesses and internationally active corporations. The high concentration of industry is particularly noteworthy. According to the structural report by the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), the Harz district (Saxony-Anhalt) in particular exhibits above-average value added in the manufacturing sector.
Key industries and leading companies
Metal and Electrical Industry: This sector is the backbone of the region. In Goslar, Aurubis AG operates one of the world's largest recycling centers for copper and precious metals. In Harzgerode, Trimet Aluminium SE is a key player in the automotive casting industry. Based in Osterode am Harz, Piller Group GmbH is the global market leader in uninterruptible power supply systems.
Automotive and Mechanical Engineering: The Harz region benefits greatly from its proximity to the automotive hubs of Braunschweig and Wolfsburg. Suppliers such as KAMA GmbH in Osterode and Nemak in Wernigerode are major employers, providing thousands of jobs.
Healthcare: With the Harzklinikum Dorothea Christiane Erxleben (locations in Quedlinburg, Wernigerode, and Blankenburg) and the Asklepios Clinics in the Goslar region, the healthcare sector is one of the largest employers in the area. Did you know that in 1754, Dorothea Christiane Erxleben became the first German woman to earn a doctorate in medicine, having been granted special permission by the Prussian King to complete her doctoral studies at the University of Halle?
The Nordhausen region has developed into a hub for logistics and technical components.
Tourism and Hospitality: Alongside manufacturing, tourism is another key pillar of the Harz region's economy. With over 10 million overnight stays per year, the Harz region is one of Germany's top travel destinations. This sector, too, has a constant need for specialists, such as chefs and restaurant and hotel professionals.
The demand for specialists: where the opportunities are greatest
Demographic change is also affecting the Harz region. Many experienced specialists will be retiring in the coming years. The Federal Employment Agency’s analysis of skilled labor shortages shows that the “time to fill a vacancy” in the Harz region is often 30 to 50 percent higher than the national average for technical and nursing professions. This means that jobs remain unfilled for a long time, and employers are desperately looking for new hires.
There is a particularly high demand in:
STEM Professions: Engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and IT specialists are in demand at nearly all industrial companies. According to the STEM Report published by the German Economic Institute (IW), there is a particular shortage of experts in the digital transformation of manufacturing in rural industrial areas.
Healthcare and Nursing Professions: There is a high demand for nursing and medical staff, which is why many hospitals have launched their own integration programs for international staff. The Saxony-Anhalt West Employment Agency of Germany reports that in the Harz district, one in four caregivers is already over 55 years old. Without recruiting foreign specialists, the labor shortage will be impossible to fill by 2030.
Why the Harz region is attractive to foreign specialists
For international applicants, it is often not just the salary that matters, but the overall package, including opportunities for integration, living costs, and quality of life. The Harz region offers many advantages here:
Affordable Housing and Quality of Life: According to a study by the German Economic Institute and the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), housing costs in the Harz region are significantly lower than in Germany’s major metropolitan areas. This enables specialists to save significantly more or enjoy a higher standard of living for their families.
Targeted Support and welcoming Infrastructure: Stakeholders in the region have recognized that international specialists need support. As a result, initiatives such as the Welcome Center Saxony-Anhalt and the IQ networks were established in the three participating German federal states. They offer advice on recognition procedures and language courses, as well as assistance dealing with government agencies.
Employment Subject to Social Security Contributions and Job Security: The IAB Firm Panel reports that a steadily increasing number of jobs in the region are permanent and fully subject to social security contributions. This guarantees access to the German social security system (health, pension, and unemployment insurance) and serves as the basis for a permanent residence permit under the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz, FEG).