“The economic slowdown is continuing to weigh heavily on the labour market. While unemployment and underemployment did decrease in November, such decrease was rather small – as in the previous month”, said Andrea Nahles, Chair of the Executive Board of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), at today’s press conference in Nuremberg.
Unemployed persons in November:
-17,000 to 2,774,000
Number of unemployed persons compared with the same time last year:
+168,000
Unemployment rate compared with the previous month:
-0.1 percentage points to 5.9 percent
Unemployment, underemployment and economic inactivity
In November 2024, total unemployment fell by 17,000 to 2,774,000. The seasonally-adjusted number of unemployed persons increased by 7,000 compared with the previous month. Compared with November last year, there were 168,000 more unemployed persons. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 5.9 percent. Compared with the same month last year, the rate had increased by 0.3 percentage points. The rate of unemployment in October, as determined by the Federal Statistical Office according to the labour force concept of the ILO, amounted to 3.3 percent.
On a seasonally-adjusted basis, underemployment, which along with unemployment also includes short-term incapacity to work, increased by 2,000 compared with the previous month. In November 2024, total underemployment was 3,554,000, which is 109,000 more than one year ago.
Short-time work
Before the start of short-time work, companies are required to submit a notification regarding the expected loss of work. According to the current data, short-time work due to market conditions was reported for 64,000 people from 1st until 25th November.
The latest data on the actual take-up is available up to September 2024. According to preliminary extrapolated data of the Federal Employment Agency, cyclical short-time allowance was paid for 268,000 employees that month, after 175,000 in August and 194,000 in July.
Economic activity and employment
According to the Federal Statistical Office, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of economically active persons (according to the inland concept) fell in October 2024 by 3,000 compared with the previous month. At 46.32 million people, it was 25,000 higher than in the previous year. From August until September 2024, according to the calculations of the BA, employment subject to social security contributions increased by 10,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis. In comparison with the previous year, employment subject to social security contributions increased by 123,000 to 35.21 million in September, with the increase solely accounted for by foreign citizens. In September 2024, 7.64 million people were in low-paid “mini job” employment, 39,000 more than in the same month last year. Of this total, for 4.15 million people, this low-paid employment was their only job, while for 3.50 million, it was just a side job.
The demand for labour
668,000 job vacancies were registered with the BA in November, 65,000 fewer than one year ago. The BA Jobs Index (BA X) – an indicator of the demand for staff in Germany, which, in addition to the number of registered jobs, also takes new jobs into account – fell by 2 points to 105 points in November 2024. Compared with the same month last year, the BA-X recorded a decline of 10 points.
Cash benefits for unemployment and persons requiring support
895,000 people received Unemployment Benefit in November 2024, 104,000 more than one year ago. The total number of people able to work and entitled to Citizen’s Benefit in November was 3,951,000. In comparison with November 2023, this was an increase of 30,000 people. This means that 7.2 percent of people of working age living in Germany were in need of support.