der
Personalbestand
What does der Personalbestand mean? 👥
Der Personalbestand refers to the total number of employees working in a company, organization, or a specific part of it at a particular point in time. In English, this translates closely to staff level, headcount, or workforce size. It's a key metric in human resources (Personalwesen) and business administration (Betriebswirtschaft).
The word is masculine in German, so it always takes the article der.
It's a noun typically used in the singular because it describes a collective quantity. The plural (die Personalbestände) is rare and usually refers to the staff levels of different companies or departments at different times.
Grammar Insights: Declining der Personalbestand 🧐
The noun "Personalbestand" is masculine. Here is its declension in the singular:
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | der | Personalbestand | (the staff level) |
| Genitive (Whose?) | des | Personalbestand(e)s | (of the staff level) |
| Dative (To/For Whom?) | dem | Personalbestand(e) | (to/for the staff level) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | den | Personalbestand | (the staff level) |
The plural "die Personalbestände" (the staff levels/headcounts) is used less frequently.
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Personalbestände | (the staff levels) |
| Genitive | der | Personalbestände | (of the staff levels) |
| Dative | den | Personalbeständen | (to/for the staff levels) |
| Accusative | die | Personalbestände | (the staff levels) |
Example Sentences
- Der aktuelle Personalbestand des Unternehmens liegt bei 500 Mitarbeitern.
(The company's current headcount is 500 employees.) - Die Personalabteilung analysiert die Entwicklung des Personalbestands.
(The HR department analyzes the development of the staff level.) - Mit dem wachsenden Personalbestand steigen auch die Personalkosten.
(With the growing headcount, personnel costs also increase.) - Wir müssen den Personalbestand an die Auftragslage anpassen.
(We need to adjust the staff level according to the order situation.)
Using Personalbestand in Context 💼
The term Personalbestand is primarily used in professional and business contexts, especially in:
- Human Resources departments (Personalabteilungen): for managing and planning employee numbers.
- Business reports (Geschäftsberichten): as a key figure indicating company size and development.
- Business news (Wirtschaftsnachrichten): in reports about hiring or layoffs in companies.
- Business analyses (Betriebswirtschaftliche Analysen): for calculating productivity, costs, etc.
It's a rather formal term. In everyday conversation, one might more likely talk about Mitarbeiterzahl (number of employees) or Belegschaft (workforce/staff), although Personalbestand is more precise as it refers to a specific date (Stichtag).
Difference from Belegschaft: While Belegschaft tends to refer to the employees as a collective group, Personalbestand focuses purely on the number at a specific time.
Memory Aids for Personalbestand 🤔
Article Mnemonic (der): Think of 'der Commander' who reviews the 'standing' personnel. A commander is masculine, so it's der Personalbestand.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine taking stock (Bestand) of the company's most valuable asset: its Personal (personnel). It's the current 'stock' of people.
Synonyms and Antonyms 🔄
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Belegschaft: Staff, workforce (often implying the group itself).
- Mitarbeiterzahl: Number of employees (simpler term).
- Personalkapazität: Personnel capacity (often refers to potential rather than just the count).
- Stellenbesetzung: Staffing level, number of filled positions.
- Headcount: (Anglicism used in German too) Direct equivalent, common in international business.
Antonyms (Opposite Concept/Related Opposites):
- Personalabbau: Staff reduction, downsizing.
- Vakanz / offene Stelle: Vacancy / open position (represents a lack within the potential staff level).
- Leerstand (figurative): Vacancy, lack of personnel.
Potentially Confusing Words:
- Personalbedarf: Personnel requirement, staffing needs (the number of employees needed vs. the actual number, Personalbestand).
A Little Joke 😄
Fragt der Chef den neuen Personaler: "Wie entwickeln sich die Bewerbungen auf unsere neue Stelle?"
Sagt der Personaler: "Sehr gut, Chef! Der Personalbestand an Bewerbern übersteigt bald den der Mitarbeiter!"
(The boss asks the new HR manager: "How are the applications for our new position developing?"
The HR manager says: "Very well, boss! The headcount of applicants will soon exceed that of the employees!")
Personalbestand in Verse ✒️
Im Büro, Werk, an jedem Ort,
zählt man genau, Wort für Wort.
Wer heute da, wer morgen fehlt?
Der Personalbestand wird gewählt.
Mal wächst er an, mal schrumpft er klein,
so muss die Zahl der Firma sein.
(In office, factory, every place,
they count precisely, pace by pace.
Who's here today, who's gone tomorrow?
The staff level's chosen, joy or sorrow.
Sometimes it grows, sometimes it shrinks,
the company's number, so one thinks.)
Who or What am I? ❓
Ich bin eine Zahl, doch kein Geld auf der Bank,
ich zeige die Köpfe im Firmenschrank.
Man zählt mich genau, zu Stichtag und Zeit,
bin wichtig für Wachstum und Arbeitsleid.
Was bin ich?
(I am a number, but not money in the bank,
I show the heads in the company rank.
I'm counted precisely, by date and by time,
important for growth and the work-life climb.
What am I?)
Solution: Der Personalbestand (the staff level / headcount)
Trivia and Word Structure 🧱
Word Composition:
Personalbestand is a compound noun, formed from:
- Personal: Referring to the personnel, the staff members.
- Bestand: Meaning stock, inventory, level or balance at a specific point in time (like Lagerbestand - stock level, Warenbestand - inventory).
Context:
The term is typical of German administrative language (Verwaltungssprache) and business economics (Betriebswirtschaft). It sounds rather formal and objective.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Personalbestand?
The word "Personalbestand" is masculine. The correct article is der. It refers to the total number of employees in a company at a specific point in time (headcount or staff level).