Overview
- Registered unemployment fell by 26,000 from October to 2.885 million, leaving the rate at 6.1%, which is 0.2 points higher than a year earlier.
- The Federal Employment Agency says employment is stagnating and demand for labor remains subdued despite the typical autumn easing.
- Vacancies reported to the agency stood at 624,000 in November, down 44,000 year on year, while Ifo’s employment barometer slipped to 92.5 and Destatis reported October employment essentially unchanged.
- Short‑time work signals cooled: 34,000 people were indicated for economic Kurzarbeit from 1–24 November, with actual recipients at 209,000 in September on preliminary data.
- Regional reports show small monthly declines but higher joblessness than a year ago in states such as Bavaria, NRW and Saxony, with stress concentrated in manufacturing and trade and comparatively firmer readings in construction; increases have been sharper among degree‑holders, older workers and men.