The Volkswagen Group including the Chinese joint venture employed on average 626,715 people (+3.0%) in financial year 2016. Domestically in 2016, on average 279,993 people were under contract; their share of the total workforce was slightly below the level of the previous year with 44.7% (45.6%). As of December 31, 2016, the number of active employees in the Volkswagen Group was at 601,443 (+2.8%). In addition, 5,782 employees were in the passive phase of partial retirement and 19,490 young people (+4.5%) were in a training relationship. At the end of the year under review the workforce of the Volkswagen Group came to 626,715 people (+3.0%). Essential factors for the rise in employee numbers were the hiring of qualified staff above all in Germany and China, the volume-based growth abroad and the staff increase in our new plants in Mexico and Poland. Domestically there were 281,518 people employed (+1.0%) by 31 December 2016, abroad 345,197 (+4.2%).