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49m ago

Germany to Add 2.4 Workdays in 2026, Reviving Calls to Cut Public Holidays

Destatis attributes the increase to nationwide holidays landing on weekends, implying a modest GDP boost.

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Die Arbeitnehmerinnen und Arbeitnehmer in Deutschland müssen im kommenden Jahr etwas mehr arbeiten. Das liegt an Feiertagen wie dem Tag der deutschen Einheit am 3. Oktober und dem 26. Dezember, die 2026 auf das Wochenende fallen.

Overview

  • Germany will average 250.5 workdays in 2026, up from 248.1 in 2025, because the Day of German Unity on 3 October and 26 December fall on weekends.
  • Destatis reiterates the rule of thumb that each additional workday can raise GDP by about 0.1 percentage points, though the impact varies with the day’s timing.
  • Economists have already factored the calendar effect into 2026 forecasts, with German GDP expected to grow by roughly 0.9% to 1.3%.
  • Business leaders and some economists advocate scrapping a holiday to lift output, naming Easter Monday, Whit Monday or Second Christmas Day, with IW estimating up to €8.6 billion per day.
  • Unions and research institutes cite mixed evidence and worker recovery benefits, and any change faces state-level authority hurdles with no concrete legislative move underway.