Inclusive Job Fair in Landshut Region Concludes with Full Approval

Multiple Exhibitors, High Traffic of Visitors, and Vocal Advocacy for Increased Workplace Inclusion

, and Administrator

2025 September 17 . 10:47 AM

2 min read

A job fair in the Landshut region, aimed at promoting inclusivity, was a resounding triumph

Inclusive Job Fair in Landshut Region Concludes with Full Approval

The Inclusive Job Fair, held on May 22, 2025, at the Ergoldinger Town Hall, aimed to promote inclusive employment in the region and break down barriers in the job market. Organised by Carolin Voelkner from the City of Landshut and Linda Pilz from Landkreis Landshut, with support from the Round Table on Inclusion in the Workplace, the fair attracted approximately 25 companies, authorities, and organisations.

The event was sponsored by Landrat Peter Dreier and Mayor Alexander Putz, who both emphasised the importance of the fair in encouraging encounters on an equal footing and recognising the added value of inclusion. Over 300 visitors, including many people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, attended the fair.

Holger Kiesel, the disability officer of the Bavarian State Government, and Karl-Heinz Arians, Ministerial Director and head of the department for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs, spoke at the fair. Kiesel emphasised the importance of allowing every person to test their limits and rejected discriminatory statements in job interviews. He urged exhibiting companies to focus on getting to know the person behind the job application, rather than just their disability.

Mario Weidisch, chairman of the disability council in the district, shared his experiences of discriminatory statements in job interviews. A panel discussion, moderated by journalist Matthias Keck, allowed people to share their experiences of working with a disability and the importance of proper aids and support.

Many employers engaged in direct conversations with visitors during the fair. The supporting program at the Inclusive Job Fair included practical lectures on topics like "special job applications", "budget for work", and funding opportunities for employers.

The unemployment rate among people with disabilities remains almost twice as high as the average population, and despite a skills shortage, many companies do not meet the legal quota for employing people with disabilities. Every fourth company obliged to do so employs no one with a handicap. The Landrat emphasised that the fair demonstrated how inclusion can be achieved in everyday life through concrete offers, personal encounters, and a firm determination to break down barriers.

The organisers of the Inclusive Job Fair announced their intention to further develop the platform and establish it permanently if possible. The fair was a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and equality in the job market, and it is hoped that similar events will continue to take place in the future.