Graduating with a degree in biology in Germany, Julia Unkelbauer thought she had done everything right. But applying for job after job since 2024 has so far resulted only in rejections.
"I would very much like to continue working in research," the 38-year-old, who lives in the central city of Fulda, told AFP.
"Unfortunately, that's a bit difficult because the number of positions is very limited," she said.
Unkelbauer, who studied palynology – the study of microscopic biological material found in sediment such as pollen and spores – illustrates a growing labour market mismatch in Germany.
The number of unemployed in Germany climbed to over three million in January for the first time since 2015.
