Job fair in Landshut region caters to all, proves to be a full success

The Inclusive Job Fair, held on May 22, 2025, at the Ergoldinger Citizens' Hall, was a significant step towards promoting inclusive employment in the region. Organized by Carolin Voelkner (City of Landshut) and Linda Pilz (Landkreis Landshut), with support from the Round Table on Inclusion in the Workplace, over 300 visitors, including many people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, attended the event.

In his speech, Holger Kiesel, disability officer for the Bavarian state government, emphasized the importance of allowing every person to test their limits and rejected discriminatory statements in job interviews. He encouraged exhibiting companies to meet the person behind the resume and focus on skills, qualifications, ideas, and motivation, rather than just the disability.

The fair offered a unique opportunity for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses to better position themselves on the job market. Many employers took the opportunity to engage directly with visitors, and the accompanying program featured practical lectures on topics like "special application," "budget for work," and funding opportunities for employers.

Landrat Peter Dreier, sponsor of the Inclusive Job Fair, emphasized that the event demonstrated how inclusion can succeed in everyday life through concrete offers, personal encounters, and the firm will to break down barriers. He also highlighted that every fourth company obliged to employ people with disabilities does not meet the legal quota, and the unemployment rate among people with disabilities remains almost twice as high as the population average.

The event was not just beneficial for applicants but also for companies that recognize the added value of inclusion and actively shape an inclusive workplace. The Bavarian disability officer, Holger Kiesel, and Karl-Heinz Arians, ministerial director and head of the department for inclusion of people with disabilities at the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Work and Social Affairs, both delivered greetings at the event.

A panel discussion moderated by journalist Matthias Keck was part of the event, where affected individuals like Diana Back shared their experiences of working with a disability. The discussion underscored the need for more inclusive hiring practices and the benefits they bring to both employers and employees.

The organizers of the Inclusive Job Fair announced their intention to further develop the platform and establish it permanently. Mayor Alexander Putz, sponsor of the fair, saw it as a significant sign for encounters on equal terms. He emphasized that the Inclusive Job Fair was not just a one-time event but a commitment to fostering a more inclusive job market in the region.