CareerBuilder announced it has entered into a definitive agreement under which CareerBuilder will acquire JobScout24, a major job board in Germany with more than 3.36 million users and more than 250,000 jobs. Combining the reach and resources of both companies will solidify CareerBuilder’s position as one of the top three online recruitment players in Germany and further its global expansion.
Three years ago, CareerBuilder launched CareerBuilder.de, which today stands as one of the fastest-growing job sites in Germany. Acquiring JobScout24 will not only give CareerBuilder a stronger footprint in the fifth largest economy in the world, the acquisition will deliver a greater number of employment resources and opportunities to Germany’s companies and job seekers.
Operating on the CareerBuilder platform, JobScout24.de will serve as another point where employers and job seekers can connect. The acquisition will also include Jobs.de, another popular site with significant SEO (search engine optimization) value.
“We have seen a lot of resilience in the German economy despite the debt crisis, and activity on our site points to more confidence in hiring,” said Tony Roy, president of CareerBuilder EMEA. “This is an exciting partnership with a respected, prominent brand that will further underscore CareerBuilder’s competitive positioning in this critical market. With CareerBuilder and JobScout24 coming together, employers and job seekers will have access to a wider range of services and will have higher visibility in the marketplace.”
“This is not only a big win for our companies, this is a big win for the employment community in Germany,” said Dr. Martin Enderle, CEO of Scout24. “Scout24 is one of Europe’s leading corporate groups of online market places. CareerBuilder with its vast global reach is a powerhouse in the human capital space. This agreement will combine resources and thus offer the customers an experience that goes well beyond a traditional job board.”
Germany’s economy and employment prospects continue to grow. Thirty-four of the Global FORTUNE 500 are headquartered in Germany. The country’s GDP expanded by 3.6 percent in 2010, the highest since 1990, and is projected to grow around 3 percent in 2011, according to the German central bank. Germany’s unemployment dropped in July for the 25th consecutive month.