The access to employment is often characterised by discrimination against trans* people. A survey of the Situation in Europe by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) showed, that in 2019, 36% of the interviewed trans* people experienced discrimination against them when searching for a job. Besides that, the study ‘Out im Office?!’ (Out in office) by the Institute for Diversity and Anti-Discrimination Research (IDA) in 2017 showed that more than half of the job applicants got rejected at least once in their life due to trans* discriminatory behaviour of potential employers.

Due to those difficulties, the average income of trans* people is significantly lower compared to cis people. More than a quarter of the interviewees earn less than 1,000€ per month, whereas only 8% of the interviewed cis people stated this. In a survey by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, a trans* person reported that they were not employed due to their gender identity and gender expression:

‘At an interview it was explained to me that I reach the required competences but by identifying as transsexual, I could not be considered for the job, as customers might react negatively.’

- quote survey p. 171

The resulting impediments to access to employment also show in the numbers and type of employment. Due to a study by the University of Hamburg in 2015, 70.8% of the trans* people in Germany have been in full-time employment compared to 74% of the rest of the population. 17.5% of the trans* people did not have a paid employment, compared to the German average of 4.6%.