News

German Unemployment Holds at Over 4-Year High
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Germany was unchanged from the previous month at 6.3% in August of 2025, aligned with market expectations to tie the highest ratio since September of 2020. The number of unemployed people fell by 9,000 from the downwardly revised value on previous month to 2.957 million, the sharpest monthly decline in over three years.
Published on 2025-08-29

Germany Unemployment Rate Steady in July
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.3% in June, below market expectations of 6.4% but remaining at the highest since September 2020. The number of unemployed rose by 2,000 to 2.97 million, less than the 15,000 increase expected. Still, the number of unemployed people is close to the 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. "Unemployment has risen due to the beginning of the summer break," said labour office head Andrea Nahles. Nahles said earlier this month that improvement is not expected before next summer as the German government's massive spending surge will have a delayed impact on the job market. Meanwhile, there were 628,000 job openings in July, 75,000 fewer than a year ago, in another sign of a slowdown in demand, the labour office said.
Published on 2025-07-31

Germany Unemployment Rate Steady in July
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.3% in June, below market expectations of 6.4% but remaining at the highest since September 2020. The number of unemployed rose by 2,000 to 2.97 million, less than the 15,000 increase expected. Still, the number of unemployed people is close to the 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. "Unemployment has risen due to the beginning of the summer break," said labour office head Andrea Nahles. Nahles said earlier this month that improvement is not expected before next summer as the German government's massive spending surge will have a delayed impact on the job market. Meanwhile, there were 628,000 job openings in July, 75,000 fewer than a year ago, in another sign of a slowdown in demand, the labour office said.
Published on 2025-07-31

Germany Unemployment Rate Steady in June
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.3% in June, below market expectations of 6.4% but remaining at the highest since September 2020. The number of unemployed rose by 11,000 to 2.972 million, less than the 15,000 increase expected. Still, the number of unemployed people is close to the 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. "The labour market continues to show signs of economic weakness. Unemployment continues to develop unfavourably. And companies remain reluctant to hire," said labour office head Andrea Nahles. The number of job openings fell to 632,000 , down 69,000 from a year earlier, signaling slower hiring demand.
Published on 2025-07-01

Germany Jobless Rate Holds at 2020-High
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.3% in May, the highest since September 2020 and matching forecasts. However, the number of unemployed rose by 34,000 to 2.963 million, much more than the 10,000 increase expected, bringing the total close to the 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. This sharp rise adds pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is trying to revive Europe’s largest economy after two years of decline. The labor market is weakening despite long-term worker shortages, and officials expect jobless numbers to keep rising through summer. The number of job vacancies fell to 634,000, down 67,000 from a year earlier, signaling slower hiring demand.
Published on 2025-05-28

Germany Unemployment Rate Holds at 2020-Highs
Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.3% in April 2025, the highest level since September 2020, in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed people increased by 4K to 2.922 million, compared to expectations of a bigger 20K rise.
Published on 2025-04-30

Germany Unemployment Rate at 2020-Highs
Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 6.3% in March 2025, the highest level since September 2020, compared to 6.2% in February, and forecasts of 6.2%. The number of unemployed people increased by 26K to 2.922 million, compared to expectations of a smaller 10K rise. "March marks the start of the so-called spring recovery on the labour market. This year however, the economic slump is noticeably slowing it down", Anfrea Nahles, the head of the labour office said.
Published on 2025-03-28

German Jobless Rate Holds at 2020-High
Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.2% in February 2025, matching expectations and remaining at its highest level since October 2020. The number of unemployed people increased by 5,000 to 2.886 million, less than forecasts of a 15,000 rise. "The economic weakness remains visible on the labour market in February," said the labour office's Daniel Terzenbach.
Published on 2025-02-28

German Jobless Rate Rises to 2020-High
Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 6.2% in January 2025 from 6.1% in the previous month, in line with market expectations. It was the highest jobless rate since October 2020, as the number of unemployed individuals rose by 11,000 to 2.88 million, still less than the anticipated 14,000 increase. "Unemployment and underemployment increased significantly at the start of the year, as is usual for this month," said labour office head Andrea Nahles.
Published on 2025-01-31

German Jobless Rate Remains Unexpectedly Stable
Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.1% in December 2024, slightly below market expectations of 6.2% but still near its highest level since February 2021. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 10,000 to 2.869 million, less than the anticipated increase of 15,000. "The winter break on the labour market begins in December. As a result, unemployment and underemployment increased in December, as is usual for this month," said labour office head Andrea Nahles. The average unemployment rate for the year edged higher to 6.0% in 2024 from 5.7% in 2023. "Looking back, the ongoing economic downturn in 2024 has left increasingly deep marks on the labour market," said Nahles.
Published on 2025-01-03

German Jobless Rate Unchanged at 6.1%
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Germany held steady at 6.1% in November 2024, matching expectations and remaining at its highest level since February 2021. The number of unemployed people increased by 7,000 to 2.86 million, significantly below the forecasted rise of 20,000. "Economic weakness continues to weigh on the labour market," noted Labour Office head Andrea Nahles. Meanwhile, job demand weakened further, with 668,000 openings reported in November, 65,000 fewer than a year earlier, indicating a continued slowdown in hiring activity.
Published on 2024-11-29

Germany Unemployment Rate Edges Up to 2021-Highs of 6.1%
The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in Germany increased to 6.1% in October 2024, the highest since February 2021, compared to 6% in the previous four months, and in line with expectations. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 27K to 2.856 million, the highest level since September 2020, and more than forecasts of a 15K rise. "The autumn upturn in the labour market has largely failed to materialise this year", labour office head Andrea Nahles said.
Published on 2024-10-30

German Jobless Rate Unchanged at 6%
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained at an over 3-year high of 6.0% in September 2024, unchanged from the previous month and in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 17,000 to 2.823 million, more than the anticipated increase of 12,000. There were 696,000 job openings in September, 65,000 fewer than a year ago.
Published on 2024-09-27

Germany Jobless Rate Steady at 6%, Highest since May 2021
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained at an over 3-year high of 6.0% in August 2024, unchanged from the previous month and in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 2,000 to 2.801 million, significantly lower than the anticipated increase of 16,000. There were 699,000 job vacancies in August, down by 72,000 from a year ago, indicating weakening labour demand. On an unadjusted basis, unemployment rose by 63,000 to 2.872 million, the highest level in three-and-a-half years. "The labour market continues to feel the effects of economic stagnation," said Andrea Nahles, chairwoman of the Federal Labour Office, noting that unemployment had increased over the summer.
Published on 2024-08-30

Germany Unemployment Rate Holds at Over 3-Year High
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate stood at 6% in July 2024, the highest since May 2021, in line with market estimates. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 18 thousand to 2.802 million in July, marking a 19th consecutive period of rising unemployment, and surpassing the forecast of 15,000. "The weak economic development is weighing on the labour market," said the labour office's Daniel Terzenbach. "At the beginning of the summer break, unemployment and underemployment rose more sharply than usual.", he added. The ongoing increase in insolvencies and declining recruitment plans in both manufacturing and services point to further challenges in the coming months.
Published on 2024-07-31

German Jobless Rate Edges Up to 3-Year High
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose to 6% in June 2024, the highest since May 2021 and above market forecasts of 5.9%. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 19 thousand to 2.781 million in June, marking a 18th consecutive period of rising unemployment, and higher than forecasts of 15 thousand, indicative of the weak economic development in Germany.
Published on 2024-06-28

Germany Unemployment Rate Remains at 3-Year High
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate held at 5.9% for the sixth consecutive month in May 2024, close to three-year highs, and matching market forecasts. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 25 thousand to 2.762 million in May, marking a 17th consecutive period of rising unemployment, and much higher than forecasts of 10 thousand, indicative of the weak economic development in Germany.
Published on 2024-06-04

German Jobless Rate Stable at 2021-Highs of 5.9%
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate held steady for the fifth consecutive month in April 2024 at 5.9%, its highest level since May 2021, matching market forecasts. The number of unemployed individuals increased by 13 thousand to 2.732 million in April, marking a 16th consecutive period of rising unemployment, indicative of the weak economic development in Germany. Regional differences become even more evident at the district and municipal levels. The highest rates were registered in Bremerhaven and Gelsenkirchen, both at 14.8%, while the lowest unemployment rate was in Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, at 2.2%.
Published on 2024-04-30

German Jobless Rate Unchanged at 5.9%
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate held steady at 5.9% in March 2024, unchanged from the previous month's figure and remaining at its highest level since May 2021. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 4 thousand to 2.719 million, marking a 15th consecutive period of increasing unemployment. Additionally, there was a notable year-on-year surge of 176 thousand in the count of unemployed individuals. Regional disparities persisted, with Bremen (11.0%) and Berlin (9.6%) registering the highest unemployment rates, while Bayern (3.5%) and Baden-Württemberg (4.1%) maintain the lowest rates.
Published on 2024-03-28

German Jobless Rate Holds Near 3-Year High
Germany's seasonally adjusted jobless rate held steady at 5.9% in February 2024, unchanged from the previous month's revised figure and remaining at its highest level since May 2021. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 11 thousand to 2.713 million, marking a 14th consecutive period of increasing unemployment. Additionally, there was a notable year-on-year surge of 190 thousand in the count of unemployed individuals. Regional disparities persist, with Bremen (11.0%) and Berlin (9.5%) registering the highest unemployment rates, while Bayern (3.5%) and Baden-Württemberg (4.1%) maintain the lowest rates.
Published on 2024-02-29