Opinion poll
Many students want to start their own company – few do it
Building a company is associated with a lot of work and risk – and great opportunities. Many students think about founding, few really do it. What they complain about.
Job security in the administration or a company or rather an adventure company foundation? A fifth (20 percent) of students in Germany wants to build up its own company according to a report by the startup association after graduation. So strive for more founding than after a career in the public service (15.5 percent). However, only a few implement their plans.
In its report, the startup association refers to an international survey of 2024, for which a good 2,000 students were interviewed in Germany about their professional plans five years after their studies. With the founding interest, Germany lies in a global comparison in midfield. Most students (32 percent) prefer employment in a company.
The association sees deficits in the education system as the reason why young people are no longer launching companies. “During your studies you ask yourself where it is going and how your own career can look,” says Kati Ernst, deputy chairman of the board at the startup association. “Therefore, it is so important to bring the company to play as an option here and to give young people the necessary skills.” In addition, entrepreneurs would have to be brought into the education system.
Association sees great start -up potential
From the point of view of the startup association, knowledge of founding is not conveyed enough. 84 percent of interested students would have liked to learn more about entrepreneurship at school, shows the association’s own survey among around 1,000 students at more than 160 universities. Only a minority (17 percent) had corresponding courses.
The association sees this as a missed chance. “If only a small part of the existing potential was lifted, this would have a significant effect on Germany’s innovative strength.” Around 3,000 start-ups would be founded in this country every year. If all students were actually building their own company with a business interest, the number of new companies would be composed to 21,000 times.
Students strive for meaning
According to the survey, students want to see new learning (92 percent) and the relevance of their work (85 percent). The income is 75 percent important. Professional security play a subordinate role (30 percent).
In addition, the group of students with start -up interest is ready to perform: a good half (53 percent) expect a weekly working time of 50 hours and more. This lies close to reality: According to the information, founders work on average 55 hours a week.
dpa
Source: Stern
