Company Seeks Woman: How Companies Want to Attract Women as Skilled Workers

In Düsseldorf, on June 11, 2026, an event is set to bring women and employers directly to the table—with the explicit goal of discussing concrete entry opportunities instead of debating abstractly about skills shortages and equal opportunities. Behind the format is the Düsseldorf working group "Strengthening Women's Employment," a network of employment agencies, business partners, unions, and local stakeholders.

The event "Company Seeks Woman: Talking Together, Learning from Each Other—Women Change the Economy" will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Career Information Center (BIZ) of the Düsseldorf Employment Agency, Grafenberger Allee 300. The meeting is also announced in a press release from the DGB dated May 29, 2026, in which the format is explicitly described as a networking and placement offer.

Why the Topic Goes Beyond Individual Positions

The fact that companies are looking for new ways to recruit staff is a constant topic in many industries. At the same time, hurdles remain that can make gainful employment—especially when changing jobs, re-entering, or increasing working hours—difficult for many women: inflexible working hours, lack of planning reliability, perceived unfair pay, and the still measurable difference in earnings.

This gap is not just a question of individual career opportunities but also affects securing skilled workers and regional value creation.

How deeply this is structurally anchored is shown by current figures from the Federal Statistical Office: For 2025, Destatis reports an unadjusted gender pay gap of 16 percent—that is, an average difference in gross hourly earnings. Additionally, Destatis cites a "gender gap in the labor market" of 37 percent for 2025, which reflects not only hourly wages but also differences in working hours and labor force participation.

This is exactly where the Düsseldorf event comes in: not as a political decision-making round, but as a practical format that aims to make employment paths visible and enable contacts.

What the Format Promises—and How It Works

The meeting is organized by the working group "Strengthening Women's Employment." In Düsseldorf, the participating partners include the Düsseldorf Employment Agency, DGB Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts, Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Düsseldorf Job Center, and the City of Düsseldorf. The DGB also mentions other partners from the regional economic development and business community in its announcement.

Sigrid Wolf, introduced as DGB chairwoman and head of the working group, describes the aim as an exchange "at eye level": Women should receive information on career changes, re-entry, reorientation, training, and development opportunities—and companies, in turn, should receive tips on how to become more attractive to female employees, for example through working time models and fair compensation.

• 10:00 a.m.: Check-in
• 10:30 a.m.: Opening by the Düsseldorf Taskforce for Work
• 10:35 a.m.: Welcome by Birgitta Kubsch-von Harten, Chairwoman of the Management Board of the Düsseldorf Employment Agency
• 10:45 a.m.: Keynote by Dr. Lydia Malin (German Economic Institute Cologne)
• 11:00 a.m.: Panel/Best Practice "Career Change: Dead End or Career Booster?"
• 11:30 a.m.: Presentation of the attending companies
• 11:45 a.m.: Break with snacks
• 12:00 p.m.: Round tables at topic tables (conversations between participants and companies)
• 1:00 p.m.: Come Together at the booths
• 1:40 p.m.: Presentation of results and raffle of a business photo shoot
• 2:00 p.m.: End

The offer is free of charge for participants; childcare is available if needed. This is a practical detail with a big impact: Especially at information and networking events, childcare often determines whether an appointment can be attended at all—and thus whether interest turns into a next step.

Which Companies Are Participating—and What Signals They Send

Among the participating companies is Schulz & Sohn GmbH. Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer Mark Sethe justifies participation with a leadership understanding that sees diversity as part of modern corporate management: Economic success arises where people are given fair opportunities, can take on responsibility, and contribute perspectives—especially in medium-sized businesses.

Fabian Düesmann Larocque, Head of People & Culture, adds a second point: Career paths today are often no longer linear. But this is precisely where skills can lie that are valuable to companies—for example, through changing industries, family phases, further training, or new focus areas. The decisive factor is whether companies see these life paths as a risk or as a resource: Those who only accept the "perfect" linear path in recruiting exclude candidates who often bring exactly the sought-after experience in practice.

Assessment: What Is Realistically to Be Expected

The format is not a promise of employment and does not replace a regular application process. Its strength lies elsewhere: It lowers barriers because questions about working hours, job profiles, entry requirements, or development opportunities can be clarified in direct contact—and because companies have to make visible how seriously they take family-friendly and fair conditions.

Whether concrete career changes, re-entries, or hirings will result from June 11 can only be assessed after the event. Success would be measurable if conversations lead to follow-up contacts—and if companies use the feedback from the round tables to design working conditions, communication, and career paths so that more women actually stay, increase their hours, or start anew.

Practical Information on Arrival and Participation

The venue is the Career Information Center of the Düsseldorf Employment Agency, Grafenberger Allee 300.

The public transport stop is Schlüterstraße/Arbeitsagentur; the location can be reached via:

• Subway lines: U72, U73, U83, 709
• Bus lines: 725, 733, 810

Parking is available at the rear of the agency building on Ivo-Beucker-Straße as well as in the surrounding residential area.

According to the DGB, registration is possible for all women and is bundled via the page frauenveraendernwirtschaft.de.