Bremen’s economy is based on various industries: high-tech, wind energy, aerospace, teaching. There are many job opportunities for expats that can be found online or in newspapers. If you are thinking about working in Bremen, read our blog and find out more.
Jobs in Bremen
Bremen’s economy was built on the seaport and this sector is still an important factor, although Bremerhaven is home to a modern port.
Bremen is home to many thriving high-tech industries such as wind energy, maritime and logistics, aerospace and space research. Bremen is home to the COF Space laboratory, which contributed to the development of the ISS space station.
The automotive industry has several factories in the area, including the DaimlerChrysler plant, which produces cars including Mercedes Benz and is one of the largest employers in the area.
Food and drink manufacturing is also an important driver of the local economy. Companies such as Kraft, Kellogg’s, Kaffee HAG, Anheuser-Busch (which makes Beck’s beer) and chocolate makers Hachez have their headquarters or production facilities there.
Language learning in the city
English is taught as standard in schools, and young people in Germany are encouraged to become fluent in a second or even third language. For expats, this means that English teachers are in demand. Potential employers in Bremen include the private International School of Bremen, which teaches an international curriculum in English, and CASA Language School, which teaches mainly German but also offers courses in other languages, including English, Italian and Russian. There is also the Berlitz Language Center and English Language Service, which, as the name suggests, teach English courses.
Entrepreneurship in Bremen
New businesses and entrepreneurship are encouraged in and around Bremen through local grants and support programmes, such as the Bremen New Business Development Programme, open to people who want to start a business and have a university degree, or people who want to start a craft business.
Looking for a job in Bremen
While you may be relocating from a previous job or already have something new in mind. You may also decide to move to Bremen and look for a job when you arrive.
The traditional method of looking for a job is to check the advertisements in local newspapers. Weser-Kurier is Bremen’s daily newspaper. However, not all job offers are in the newspapers, so the best way is to check online: try sites like Xpatjobs or Indeed. There are also websites with job offers in specific industries.
Moving to Bremen
If you live and work in Germany for six months, you may be considered a tax resident and have to pay income tax in Germany. If you are planning to move to Bremen, make sure you take care of all the formalities before and after you arrive. Leave the transport of your belongings to a transport company so that you can look for work, accommodation or friends.
