Headcount development

The Group’s headcount fell by 0.8 percent compared with the end of the prior year. Development across the segments was varied. The number of employees in our Germany operating segment declined by 3.4 percent as a result of efficiency enhancement measures, fewer new hires in the operational units, and the take-up of socially responsible instruments in connection with the staff restructuring. The total number of employees in our United States operating segment increased by 2.1 percent year-on-year at December 31, 2018, compared to December 31, 2017, due primarily to increases in customer support, back office, and network employees, partially offset by a decrease in customer acquisition employees. In our Europe operating segment, staff levels grew by 1.5 percent compared with the end of the prior year. This growth was mainly attributable to our national companies in Austria, where we took over employees of UPC Austria, and in Croatia, due in part to the expansion of our service activities there. The number of employees in our Systems Solutions operating segment decreased by 1.2 percent compared with the end of 2017, due mainly to restructuring measures. In our Group Development operating segment, the number of employees grew slightly compared with the end of 2017. The headcount in the Group Headquarters & Group Services segment was down 3.9 percent compared with the end of 2017. The decline in staff levels caused by ongoing restructuring measures at Vivento was partially offset by the addition of employees at the Technology and Innovation unit.

Workforce statistics