Number of unemployed falls only slightly in November

Created: 11/30/2022, 4:35 p.m

Slightly fewer people were unemployed in Germany in November than in the previous month.

© Hauke-Christian Dittrich / dpa

Unemployment in Germany fell slightly in November - but significantly less than in previous years.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Labor Heil is hoping for a positive impact of the new citizens' income.

Nuremberg – Extensive stagnation on the German labor market: The number of unemployed fell in November thanks to a very slight autumn revival – albeit less sharply than in previous years at this time of year.

The Federal Employment Agency on Wednesday put the number of unemployed in November at 2.434 million, which is 8,000 fewer than in October but 117,000 more than a year ago.

The unemployment rate is thus unchanged at 5.3 percent and thus 0.2 points higher than in November 2021. The Federal Agency used data for the November statistics that was available up to November 14th.

“Overall, the job market is stable.

Although seasonally adjusted unemployment and underemployment have risen again and short-time work is increasing again, employment is growing significantly," said Daniel Terzenbach, board member of the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg. 

Citizens' benefit: Federal Minister of Labor hopes for improvement for the unemployed

Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) pointed out the continuing difficult situation of the long-term unemployed.

At 877,000, their number is still higher than before the corona pandemic.

Heil also promises an improvement for this group of people as a result of the new citizens' income from January 1st.

This is to replace the previously applicable Hartz IV at the beginning of the year.

With instruments of the social labor market, which could previously only be used for a limited period, Heil hopes to see improvements for the long-term unemployed as well.

"Education and further training is also strengthened by the citizen's income," said Heil.

"That's important because around two-thirds of all long-term unemployed people don't have a vocational qualification." This is intended to attract skilled workers from within Germany.

Immigration is also needed – 400,000 people per year have to come to Germany from abroad in order to keep the workforce stable.

Hartz IV reform: Federal Employment Agency promises timely implementation

In this context, Terzenbach welcomed the Federal Government's key issues paper, which is intended to facilitate the immigration of foreign workers.

In the recent past, the Federal Agency launched several programs to bring skilled workers from third countries such as Mexico or the Philippines to Germany.

Success was often lacking because immigration encountered bureaucratic hurdles, especially when it came to the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.

Terzenbach promised the federal agency that the innovations in citizen income could be implemented by his authority in a timely manner.

"People who are entitled to the citizen's allowance will get their standard rates paid out on time," he said.

In this context, Terzenbach also pointed out the improved opportunities for training and further education, not only for recipients of citizenship benefits, but also for people who receive unemployment benefits.

Again more short-time work in November

The Federal Agency is again noticing an increase in short-time work.

From November 1st to 24th, employers announced short-time work for 82,000 employees.

Data on short-time work benefits actually paid out is only available up to September.

In that month, the Federal Agency paid short-time work benefits for 157,000 employees.

That was more than twice as many as in August. 

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The willingness of companies to hire is still high, but has weakened somewhat, the Federal Agency further announced.

In November, 823,000 vacancies were reported, 15,000 more than a year ago.

Seasonally adjusted, however, the stock decreased compared to October. 

Almost 190,000 Ukrainian refugees without a job

Refugees from Ukraine continue to have an impact on the labor market - even if they are no longer responsible for a further increase.

According to the Federal Agency, 189,000 people from Ukraine are currently unemployed.

Around 620,000 Ukrainians are on basic social security, including 200,000 children.

A good 59,000 Ukrainians were employed subject to social security contributions by September, and another 18,000 in mini-jobs.

"But we don't know what else this winter will bring," said Terzenbach.