Saxony Labour Market Must Become More Inclusive: 1 in 4 Private Employers Hire Zero Disabled Workers

Summary

New data from the German Federal Employment Agency, highlighted by DGB Saxony on 11 August 2026, reveals a stark compliance gap in disability inclusion. Of the 8,281 private employers in Saxony required by law to maintain a 5% severely disabled workforce quota, 2,058 — roughly one in four — employ not a single disabled worker. In the private sector overall, only 3.5% of employees are severely disabled, compared to 5.7% in public-sector organisations. DGB Saxony Vice Chair Ralf Hron called the figures unacceptable, warning that many businesses continue to treat penalty payments as a cheaper alternative to inclusive hiring, rather than recognising disabled employees as a genuine asset. Since March 2026, employers failing the quota face sharply increased levies: up to €815 per month per unfilled position for companies with no disabled staff at all — an increase from €720 in 2024. Hron urged employers to make better use of available integration subsidies and workplace adaptation funds rather than simply paying fines. The data reinforces calls for culture change beyond compliance in the German labour market.