Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 6.3% in May 2026, down from April's near six-year high of 6.4%, slightly beating market expectations. However, the Federal Employment Agency attributed the decline to a one-off effect. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 12,000 to 2.987 million, defying forecasts of a 10,000 rise. On a non-adjusted basis, unemployment dropped below 3 million to 2.95 million, largely due to a rebound following weak April data. Andrea Nahles, head of the agency, noted that "despite the decline, the spring upturn has failed to gain real momentum this year." Unemployment is expected to rise in the coming months as companies delay staffing adjustments in response to geopolitical shocks, including the Iran conflict. source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit

Unemployment Rate in Germany decreased to 6.30 percent in May from 6.40 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Germany averaged 6.03 percent from 1950 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 12.10 percent in March of 2005 and a record low of 0.40 percent in March of 1966. This page provides the latest reported value for - Germany Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Germany Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Germany decreased to 6.30 percent in May from 6.40 percent in April of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Germany is expected to be 6.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Germany Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 6.30 percent in 2027 and 6.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-30 07:55 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 6.4% 6.4% 6.3% 6.3%
2026-05-29 07:55 AM
Unemployment Rate
May 6.3% 6.4% 6.4% 6.4%
2026-06-30 07:55 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 6.3% 6.40%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 45607.00 45519.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Job Vacancies 641.21 637.64 Thousand Apr 2026
Job Vacancy Rate 2.80 2.40 percent Dec 2025
Minimum Wages 13.90 12.82 EUR/Hour Jan 2026
Population 83.50 83.58 Million Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 2987.00 2998.00 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Change -12.00 19.00 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 6.30 6.40 percent May 2026
Real Wage Growth 1.90 2.70 percent Dec 2025
Wages 4701.00 4479.00 EUR/Month Dec 2024
Youth Unemployment Rate 7.20 7.30 percent Apr 2026


Germany Unemployment Rate
In Germany, the unemployment rate measures the registered unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force. The registered Unemployed as defined in the statistics collected by the Federal Employment Office and based on the register of persons out of work are all those persons who have reached the age of 15 but not yet the age of 65 who have no job or only a part-time job (at present less than 15 hours a week) and are looking for a job subject to compulsory insurance with a working time of no less than 15 hours a week. They must have registered at the appropriate job center and must not be certified as unfit for work.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
6.30 6.40 12.10 0.40 1950 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Germany’s Unemployment Dips in May
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 6.3% in May 2026, down from April's near six-year high of 6.4%, slightly beating market expectations. However, the Federal Employment Agency attributed the decline to a one-off effect. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 12,000 to 2.987 million, defying forecasts of a 10,000 rise. On a non-adjusted basis, unemployment dropped below 3 million to 2.95 million, largely due to a rebound following weak April data. Andrea Nahles, head of the agency, noted that "despite the decline, the spring upturn has failed to gain real momentum this year." Unemployment is expected to rise in the coming months as companies delay staffing adjustments in response to geopolitical shocks, including the Iran conflict.
2026-05-29
German Unemployment Holds at Highest Since 2020
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.4% in April 2026, unchanged from the previous revised figure and above the expected 6.3%, holding at its highest level since July 2020. The reading highlights the continued effects of three years of economic stagnation on Europe’s largest labour market. According to the head of the Federal Employment Agency, there is still no sign of a turnaround in the labour market, with the usual spring rebound failing to materialise amid renewed economic headwinds linked to geopolitical tensions. The number of unemployed persons rose by 20,000 from a month earlier to 3.006 million, reaching the highest level since March 2011 and exceeding expectations for a 4,000 increase. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate, which includes unemployed individuals as well as those unable to work due to labour market programmes or short-term incapacity, edged down by 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 7.7%.
2026-04-30
Germany’s Job Market Stagnates as Economic Weakness Persists
Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.3% in March 2026, highlighting the lingering impact of three years of economic stagnation on Europe’s largest labor market. Andrea Nahles, head of the Federal Employment Agency, noted the absence of the typical spring labor market rebound, which failed to materialize this year. The number of unemployed remained flat at 2.977 million, defying expectations of a 2,000-person increase, while job vacancies fell to 638,000, 5,000 fewer than a year ago. Germany’s economy has struggled to regain momentum since the pandemic, burdened by rising competition from China and elevated energy costs. The recent escalation in energy prices, tied to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, now threatens to further undermine the country’s fragile recovery.
2026-03-31