The 2-3 weeks from mid-September to the start of October are the best days of the year for some people. With its lively atmosphere, people cheering, raising beer mugs, vying for traditional music, and enjoying delicious food, Oktoberfest takes away the sorrows of more than 6 million people each year. However, beyond the fun and festivities, Oktoberfest is notable for its significant contribution to job creation. The festival generates a substantial number of employment opportunities, which are critical to the local economy.
Oktoberfest Creating Employment Opportunities
Each year, Oktoberfest is worth more than 1.2 billion euros in terms of economic value. The king of beer festivals worldwide, Oktoberfest started in 1810, when people in Munich, Germany, celebrated a royal wedding with horse races, food, and beer. This tradition stuck, and over time, it grew into the massive festive and economic event it is today. Almost 6 million liters of beer are consumed yearly at Oktoberfest, all from six local breweries. Imagine the economic value the festival brings from beer only.
But the fun goes far beyond just beer. Oktoberfest features booming music, thrilling rides, and tons of delicious food, all adding up to the abovementioned 1.2 billion euros. This can not happen successfully without the right number of eligible workers working days in and nights out.
Direct Job Creation during Oktoberfest
Estimates suggest that Oktoberfest generates around 13,000 jobs every year! Among those, 8000 are permanent. Thousands of people, especially youngsters like students and graduates, find work during the festival. This provides a fun way for them to spend their time and earn their first bread while bringing a welcome boost to the local economy.
At Oktoberfest, there are 17 large and 21 small tents, each large tent having 3000-10,000 seats and the small tents having 100-700 people. There's surely a need for capable staff to manage the serving, security, and medical care of such large spaces. Let's see what kind of jobs are available at the Oktoberfest each year:
Waiters and Waitresses
Being a waiter dressed in traditional bundhosen at the event is a highly sought-after position requiring much experience, strength, and stamina. Waiters usually carry ten mugs at once through the marquee every day for over two weeks. To become a waitress at Oktoberfest, you must have a wide range of gastronomy experience.
The Peacekeepers: Security
As a security employee, your primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of everyone in the Oktoberfest beer tents. This includes managing admission and ID control and making responsible decisions when interacting with guests. In critical situations, your behavior should be de-escalating, and you should be able to make quick, intelligent decisions. You are the first line of defense for keeping the peace and ensuring everyone plays safe. Therefore, you need to maintain a watchful eye on everything that happens in the tent.
Capturing Memories: The Mamarazzi
Even though everyone has a camera on their phone these days, people still love having a remarkable memory of their time at Oktoberfest. As a photographer, you take pictures of the guests dressed in vibrant authentic Lederhosen and mini Dirndls in the tents using a DSLR camera. The photos you take will be put into a special frame and sold to the guests. The photographers at Oktoberfest are called "Mamarazzi," which is a funny way of combining the words "mom" and "paparazzi."
Bavarian Treasures: Souvenir Sellers
As a souvenir seller at Oktoberfest, you will offer guests a range of exclusive Bavarian products, including hats, traditional costume jewelry, accessories, and more. Souvenirs are popular with guests because of the carefully selected high-quality items they're selling, making the job highly sought-after.
Promillas: Alcohol Testers
During Oktoberfest, there are people called "Promillas" who check the alcohol level of guests using police-calibrated breathalyzers. They give the guests a certificate with their name and blood alcohol level. Promillas should be confident, quick-thinking, and able to keep guests under control using interrogation methods. Although Promillas don't have police authority, they can still interrogate people using police methods.
How Much Do Oktoberfest Workers Earn?
The marquee waiters, photographers, Promillas, and souvenir sellers work on a commission basis, meaning they receive a percentage of your sales. Although the average earning is 5000 Euros for the 16-18 days, the more you sell, the higher your salary will be. Commission sharing has no upper limits to your salary, but you will still receive the minimum wage. Your income will depend on your skills and motivation, allowing you to earn perfect money.
The highest earnings are typically found in tents that serve beer, wine, and champagne. In contrast, the wages are lower in beer gardens, especially when there are few guests due to bad weather. Tips are a substantial part of their earnings, often amounting to several hundred euros daily.
Major Beneficiaries of Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a major economic contributor to the Munich economy, generating an estimated €1.2 billion annually. The festival contributes up to 2% of Munich's GDP, making it a significant source of income for the local economy. The hospitality and tourism industry is particularly lucrative during this time, as visitors come from around the world to experience the festival's unique atmosphere and traditional Bavarian culture.
Hotels Benefit the Most
According to a survey, the hotel industry generates around 500+ million euros in turnover during the Oktoberfest season. During Oktoberfest, Munich sees a significant increase in tourism, leading to packed hotels. This results in high revenues for the hospitality industry. Rooms get booked months in advance and at higher rates than other times of the year. This boost in demand also creates job opportunities for hotel staff.
Oktoberfest Promotes Tourism
During the Oktoberfest season, tourists take advantage of their time to visit other attractions in the country. Popular destinations such as Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber see many tourists, contributing significantly to the local economy. This benefits tourism-related businesses like tour operators, travel agencies, souvenir shops, and restaurants. They observe a significant customer increase and generate additional revenue during the festival period.
Transport: Keeping up with the Oktoberfest Rush
Munich Airport witnesses its busiest time during the Oktoberfest, with millions of visitors flocking to the city. As a result, transportation services experience a significant increase in activity. Taxi drivers, bus drivers, train conductors, and airport staff all see a surge in business volume, which benefits their income and creates temporary job opportunities for additional drivers and support staff to manage the increased passenger flow.
Conclusion
Although most of the jobs during Oktoberfest are temporary, they still hold great importance. They provide a significant source of income for many individuals and make a substantial contribution to the overall economic success of the event. All these jobs result in actual money for the local economy. The workers earn wages, businesses make profits, and taxes are paid, which leads to a boost in the economy. This cash influx helps to support the local community and keeps the economy thriving.
