One who had stable employment in the east of Germany left with a hesitant expression (6)
I believe the answer is:
ostler
'one who had stable employment' is the definition.
(an ostler looks after horses)
'east of germany left with a hesitant expression' is the wordplay.
'east of germany' becomes 'ost' (ost is german for east).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a hesitant expression' becomes 'er'.
'ost'+'l'+'er'='OSTLER'
'in the' is the link.
(Other definitions for ostler that I've seen before include "Inn's stable lad" , "Inn stableman (hist.)" , "Nags for me" , "Old stableman at an inn -- sterol (anag)" , "Horse attendant" .)