Sustainability Report 2012 - Generali Versicherung AG

SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORKFORCEWorkforceCountry 2011 2012 ChangeItaly 16,804 16,871 0.4%Austria 4,996 4,946 -1.0%Czech Republic 4,711 4,615 -2.0%France 8,217 8,065 -1.8%Germany 15,123 14,696 -2.8%Spain 2,560 2,659 3.9%Switzerland 3,742 3,743 0.0%Total 56,153 55,595 -1.0%At the end of 2012, the total number of Group employees in the Sustainability Report area came to 55,595.Although there was an overall reduction of 558 employees (-1% compared with 2011), in the various countries there were differingtrends as regards the workforce:there was an increase in the number of employees in Spain (+3.9%) because of new hires;there were falls in Austria (-1%), France (-1.8%), the Czech Republic (-2%) and Germany (-2.8%) where restructuring plans have beenadopted in some companies with regard to sales staff;the size of the workforce remained largely the same in Italy (+0.4%) and Switzerland (0%).Workforce change 2009-20122010/2009-0.2%2011/2010-0.1%2012/2011Based on the trends observed in the last three years, whichsaw the workforce remain largely unchanged in 2010 and2011 before reducing slightly in the last year, one cansee that, even in an economic context still characterisedby uncertainty, stagnation and growing competition, inwhich structural changes are required to maintain thecompetitiveness of the business, the Group has been ableto keep employment levels practically unchanged.-1%In addition, in some countries the Group has taken anactive role in helping to overcome this period of economicdifficulty, particularly in relation to the serious problem ofunemployment amongst the young. In France, GeneraliFrance has adopted the Apprenticeship Policy which, forthe 2011-2013 three-year period, plans to permanently hire25% of the interns working at the company. Generali has signed a partnership agreement with the Second Change Schoolof Saint-Denis which, through a series of specific re-education and employment programmes, helps the unemployed andunqualified people who leave school early to become part of the working population.In Austria and Switzerland, to help young people enter the world of employment some Group companies take on internsof between 16 and 18 years of age, giving them the chance to acquire the professional experience they need so they findit easier to get work once they have completed their studies.EMPLOYEES | 59