The year 2021 could go down in history as a year of new beginnings. To speak of a zero hour like after the war would be an exaggeration. What is certain is that after the end of the corona restrictions, a lot will have to be rebuilt. On the other hand, the economic damage in some industries is real. The wave of bankruptcies is just imminent. All of this has an impact on the salary structure and job opportunities in Germany, especially since the virus crisis hit some regions harder than others. The online job platform StepStone analyzes the shifts in professional life with its salary report 2021. The study, for which around 250,000 salary data was analyzed, provides a deep look into the structures of the German labor market - and also gives young people valuable advice on choosing a job.