A quiet force behind this growth are the country 's 3.5 million small and medium sized businesses , collectively known as Mittelstand . The Mittelstand is the German name for the country 's 3.5 million small and medium sized businesses . These often family owned companies currently make up around 60 % of the German workforce . They are also a major source of employment in Germany, accounting for about 20 % of total jobs.
The Mittelstand is the German name for the country 's 3.5 million small and medium sized businesses . These often family owned companies currently make up around 60 % of the German workforce . They are also a major source of employment in Germany, accounting for about 20 % of total jobs.