Overview

• A Creditreform survey shows 21% of German mid-sized companies cut jobs, the highest rate since 2010.
• Only 14% of firms expanded their workforce, marking the second year in a row where layoffs outpaced hiring.
• Employment declined across all sectors except services, with the construction industry experiencing the sharpest losses.
• Structural challenges, including an aging workforce and regulatory burdens, compound the impact of economic downturns.
• One in nine companies anticipates further staff reductions in upcoming planning, reflecting sustained negative business sentiment.