Unemployment Rate in Germany remained unchanged at 6.30 percent in November. This dataset 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.

The average unemployment rate was six percent in Germany in 2024. Since 2005, the rate of unemployment has generally been declining, though a slight increase was evident in recent years. Unemployment in Germany and comparison with other countries Germany has a comparatively low unemployment rate compared to its European neighbors, and they are expected to stay at around three percent over the next few years. This is a result of the damage the economy suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown, most businesses were closed, and many companies lost revenue meaning employees were let go. It is also possible that higher unemployment figures will continue into later years because of inflation and rising energy prices. There is also a slightly higher unemployment rate among men than there is among women. Social support Social support is money paid out to those who are unable to work for some reason, its purpose is to protect those who are most vulnerable. The status of being unemployed is defined as when an employed person is laid off, fired, or quits his work and is still looking for a job, this is what qualifies someone to receive a citizens allowance (Bürgergeld) in Germany. The payments are only made if you are unemployed and worked for the last 12 months. Otherwise, benefits are received in the form of Arbeitslosengeld II, also called Hartz IV, which distributes social payments to people without an income who cannot work to make a living. Since January 2023 though, Arbeitlosengeld has been replaced by Bürgergeld, since this is a new transition, it is still possible that people will still refer to the benefits as Arbeitlosengeld or Hartz IV.

Key information about Germany Unemployment Rate

• Germany Unemployment Rate remained the same at 3.80% in Oct 2025, from the previously reported figure of 3.80% in Sep 2025.
• Germany Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1991 to Oct 2025, with an average rate of 7.50%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 11.20% in Aug 2005 and a record low of 2.90% in Oct 2019.
• The data is reported by reported by Statistisches Bundesamt.
• In the latest reports, Germany Population reached 83.58 million people in Dec 2024.

View monthly updates and historical trends for Germany Unemployment Rate. Source: Eurostat. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

The city-state of Bremen had an unemployment rate of 11.6 percent in September 2025. This put the city's unemployment rate well above that of the other federal states. The lowest unemployment rate in Germany was found in the state of Bavaria, at only 4.2 percent. The total unemployment rate in Germany was around 6.3 percent.

Germany - Unemployment rate was 3.70% in June of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Germany - Unemployment rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Germany - Unemployment rate reached a record high of 7.50% in September of 2009 and a record low of 2.90% in September of 2019.

In October 2025, the German unemployment rate was 6.2 percent. The annual average unemployment rate in Germany was six percent in 2024.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Germany remained unchanged at 6.60 percent in October. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Germany Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Annual average unemployment figures in Germany have been encouraging in recent years due to falling rates. In 2024, there were 2.79 million unemployed people, this was an increase from the year before and the highest figure since 2015. Jobseekers By definition, "registered as unemployed" are those who are registered with the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) or a similar association providing basic social care as "being out of a job (i.e. works less than 15 hours per week), looking for a job, available for the job market." This means that not every employable person in need is unemployed. Thus, people who do not work are not automatically unemployed. Predictably, German jobseekers also use platforms such as indeed and LinkedIn to find job postings. Those who are unemployed in Germany are entitled to social security payments known as Bürgergeld each month.
Automation risk A rising concern among employees is the threat of job loss due to automation. Larger companies in particular use industrial robots, which poses questions about the future of many manual jobs. Although different industries can rely on automation to varying extents, there are some that will be more heavily impacted than others. For example, manufacturing as well as retail trade are predicted to be some of the most heavily affected industry.

Harmonised Unemployment Rate in Germany remained unchanged at 3.80 percent in October. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Germany Harmonised Unemployment Rate.

Germany DE: Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 5.927 % in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.028 % for 2022. Germany DE: Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 8.129 % from Dec 1983 (Median) to 2023, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.461 % in 2005 and a record low of 4.576 % in 1990. Germany DE: Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth: % of Total Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.;International Labour Organization. “Labour Force Statistics database (LFS)” ILOSTAT. Accessed January 07, 2025. https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/.;Weighted average;The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Registered Unemployment Rate: East Germany data was reported at 7.800 % in Apr 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.900 % for Mar 2025. Registered Unemployment Rate: East Germany data is updated monthly, averaging 13.400 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to Apr 2025, with 401 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.800 % in Feb 2005 and a record low of 6.000 % in Nov 2019. Registered Unemployment Rate: East Germany data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Employment Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G021: Registered Unemployment Rate.

Germany - Harmonised unemployment rate was 3.90% in September of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Germany - Harmonised unemployment rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Germany - Harmonised unemployment rate reached a record high of 3.90% in September of 2025 and a record low of 2.90% in May of 2023.

Registered Unemployment Rate: East Germany: Berlin data was reported at 10.200 % in Nov 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.300 % for Oct 2025. Registered Unemployment Rate: East Germany: Berlin data is updated monthly, averaging 13.500 % from Apr 1997 (Median) to Nov 2025, with 344 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.700 % in Apr 2005 and a record low of 7.600 % in Nov 2019. Registered Unemployment Rate: East Germany: Berlin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Employment Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G: Registered Unemployment Rate.

In 2024, the unemployment rate of Europe's five largest economies ranged from 3.4 percent in Germany, to 11.35 percent in Spain. Throughout this provided time period, unemployment has consistently been lowest in Germany, and except for 2005, 2006, and 2007, highest in Spain, when Germany briefly had a higher unemployment rate.

Germany - Youth unemployment rate (15-24) was 3.60% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Germany - Youth unemployment rate (15-24) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, Germany - Youth unemployment rate (15-24) reached a record high of 5.80% in December of 2009 and a record low of 3.00% in December of 2019.

Registered Unemployment Rate: West Germany: Hamburg data was reported at 8.200 % in Nov 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.300 % for Oct 2025. Registered Unemployment Rate: West Germany: Hamburg data is updated monthly, averaging 8.000 % from Apr 1997 (Median) to Nov 2025, with 344 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.300 % in Jan 1998 and a record low of 5.900 % in Dec 2018. Registered Unemployment Rate: West Germany: Hamburg data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Employment Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G: Registered Unemployment Rate.

Germany - Total unemployment rate was 2.40% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Germany - Total unemployment rate - last updated from the EUROSTAT on December of 2025. Historically, Germany - Total unemployment rate reached a record high of 4.70% in December of 2009 and a record low of 2.00% in December of 2019.

The long-term unemployed accounted for an average of around 34.9 percent of all unemployed people in Germany in 2025. Annual average unemployment figures in the country varied in the last decade.

In 2023, the annual average number of unemployed youths aged from ** to under 20 years was ******. This was an increase of over ***** compared with the year before. Youth unemployment peaked in 2007 at an annual average number of *******.