Overview
- Registered unemployment fell by 44,000 from September to 2.911 million, yet it was 120,000 higher than in October 2024, putting the rate at 6.2%.
- Labour demand softened further with 623,000 vacancies reported, down 66,000 year over year, and the Federal Employment Agency described the autumn uptick as weak.
- Official data show 45.9 million people employed in September on a residence basis, with seasonally adjusted employment down by 21,000 as GDP stagnated in the third quarter.
- The training market tightened: 494,000 apprenticeships were reported for 444,000 applicants, 54,000 positions remained unfilled at the end of September, and placement rates hit a 25‑year low.
- Benefit recipiency underscored the pressure on households, with 984,000 people receiving unemployment insurance and 3.828 million of working age on basic income support.