Compared to South Africa, Germany does not have a high prevalence of private agencies, for example labour brokers. However, following a long period of being banned in Germany, they were again allowed to operate in 2005. Whereas there are well-known challenges regarding these agencies, there are also benefits such as placing highly specialised trades where suitably qualified workers are not easy to find. Unlike in South Africa, in Germany the public sector dominates the employment services industry. The introduction of the private agencies has assisted in improving the efficiency of the public service through competition. As a result, the public employment services are constantly under pressure to accelerate the re-integration of the unemployed back into the labour market.