Overview

• Germany's industrial sector saw a net loss of 68,000 jobs in 2024, a 1.2% decline, according to official data from the Statistisches Bundesamt.
• The electrical equipment manufacturing sector experienced the steepest decline, with employment falling by 3.6%, followed by metal production at 2.9%.
• The automotive and plastics industries each saw a 2.4% reduction in their workforce, reflecting broader economic struggles in export-dependent sectors.
• Some sectors showed resilience, including machinery repair and installation, which grew employment by 2.7%, and the food industry, which saw a 1.8% increase.
• Structural economic challenges, including high energy costs and weak global demand, continue to weigh heavily on the industrial sector, prompting calls for government intervention and workforce reskilling initiatives.