Press release

New study: Economy around BER continues along its growth path
Study reveals strong impetus despite a shortage of labour

The economy around Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) will continue to develop at a positive rate despite a prevailing labour shortage that is also taking hold here. This is the result of a joint study by Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, the economic development agency “Wirtschaftsförderung Brandenburg”, the Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency and the three Brandenburg Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Over 20,000 people are employed at BER. This expansive, modern airport contributes to the overwhelming appeal of the German capital region Berlin Brandenburg as a business location. It also benefits the area surrounding the airport itself, which is characterised by above-average employment growth. This has been confirmed by a joint labour market study conducted by Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (FBB), the economic development agency “Wirtschaftsförderung Brandenburg”, the Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency and the three Brandenburg Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHK Cottbus, IHK Ostbrandenburg and IHK Potsdam).

Between 2020 and 2023, the average annual increase in employment in the Brandenburg part of the airport region stood at more than 5 per cent. Growth will continue at BER and in the airport region going forward. Just under 38 per cent of the companies surveyed at BER anticipate further employment growth in the next three years. In the wider airport region, a solid 29 per cent expect an additional increase.

The study also analysed the economic links between BER and the surrounding airport region (30-minute driving radius around BER) and the challenges faced by companies in recruiting staff. This sheds light on a situation in which the companies at BER are economically intertwined with the surrounding region to a high degree, which is reflected – among other things – in the strong service relationships with the companies in the surrounding area. By contrast, BER Airport is a significant economic factor for companies in the wider airport region, even if the interdependencies are somewhat lower here.

Recruitment currently represents the biggest operational challenge for companies at BER and in the airport region. Companies are responding to the limited human resources with appropriate adjustment strategies. In addition to changes in work organisation, companies are focusing on digitalising business processes, increasing efficiency and training their employees.

Commenting on the results of the study, Michael Halberstadt – Chief Human Ressources Officer at Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH – says: “The joint labour market study reveals that the dynamic development in our region is closely linked to the importance of BER as an economic factor and as a place of work, and that further significant sources of growth can be expected in the airport region in the years to come. Simultaneously, the results of the study also reveal potential for optimisation in terms of securing jobs and skilled workers, which must be tapped into together. I would like to thank our regional partners and all those involved at BER who have supported us in the development of this informative study.”

Dr Steffen Kammradt, CEO of economic development agency “Wirtschaftsförderung Brandenburg”, emphasises: “The study confirms the sources of growth underpinning BER – both directly at the airport and in the wider airport region. BER is thus proving to be an economic driver for the German capital region of Berlin Brandenburg. The study also underscores the point that companies in the BER environment are taking a proactive approach to the challenges of recruiting personnel. I am delighted with your hands-on approach. The WFBB will provide sustainable support for this development with its wide range of business and labour promotion services from a single source.”

Dr Ramona Schröder, Chairwoman of the Management Board of the Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency, confirms: “Airports are known worldwide as veritable engines for job creation. This is also the case at BER and its surroundings. Passengers and goods take off from here, but a large part of the added value remains on the ground and in our region. The airport offers employment opportunities to suit all skill levels. This study highlights the interactive nature in play here, and helps to develop sources of labour and skilled worker potential. All partners are pulling together to deliver the joint success of the labour market around BER, because the Berlin-Brandenburg economic region, in particular, lends itself so well for cross-border cooperation. This also applies to the practical implementation on the labour market by the supra-regional “Berlin-Brandenburg Airport Region Project Team” of the Employment Agencies for Berlin-South and Cottbus.”

“Roughly a third of the companies at BER and in the airport region anticipate an increase in staffing requirements in the medium term – many are already desperately looking for skilled labour. This worries us, because the economic impetus provided by BER is too important for our region to not be properly utilised. This is why the existing support services for securing skilled labour need to be targeted even more specifically at companies,” says Jens Warnken, President of the Cottbus Chamber of Commerce and Industry on behalf of the Brandenburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s state working group. “The transport projects stemming from the bottleneck analysis of the airport surroundings and Tesla region are just as crucial for the location. This includes the expansion of regional and bus transport, the “Anhalter Bahn” railway and the “Königs Wusterhausen” and “Fangschleuse/Grünheide” stations. We also require modern mobility solutions, more park and ride facilities at Brandenburg’s railway stations and, last but not least, an increase in the capacity of the A10 motorway.”

A summary and the detailed version of the study (both in German) can be found here:

https://arbeit.wfbb.de/BER-Flughafenregion-Zusammenfassung

https://arbeit.wfbb.de/BER-Flughafenregion-Endbericht