The number of unemployed rose by 54,000 in August compared with the previous month to 3.061 million. That is 36,000 more than in August 2025, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) said. The unemployment rate thus rose by 0.1 percentage points to 6.5 percent.
BA board chair Andrea Nahles said that in August, too, the labor market showed little movement beyond the usual seasonal pattern. The subdued development of recent months continues. The statistics are based on data collected up to August 13.
Underemployment, which in addition to unemployment also includes labor market policy measures and short-term incapacity for work, fell by 3,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis to 3.674 million. On a year-on-year basis, however, it is 33,000 higher. Demand for labor remains subdued: 656,000 job vacancies were registered in August, 3,000 more than in July and 25,000 more than a year earlier.
The number of people in employment subject to social security contributions rose by only 1,000 from May to June on a seasonally adjusted basis, and was down 73,000 year on year. Cyclical short-time work remains elevated. 1.133 million people received unemployment benefit in August, 109,000 more than a year earlier. The BA cites the difficult economic situation and structural change as reasons.
The number of people receiving basic income support, known as Bürgergeld until the end of June, fell by 116,000 year on year to 3.754 million. According to the BA, this also reflects the successful integration of refugees into the labor market.
Source: Tagesschau
