The service sector continues to employ the largest share of workers in Germany, with around 72.3 percent of employees working in the sector in 2023. In recent years, the distribution of workers has slowly shifted away from the industry and agriculture sectors. Urbanization and the service economy Big cities continue to be the focal point for the service sector, which includes the fields of health, education, finance, telecommunications, and tourism. More than three-quarters of the German population live in urbanized areas, and this growing urbanization is helping the service sector to flourish. Subsequently, as fewer people live in rural areas, the agriculture sector continues to employ a smaller percentage of the workforce each year. A marker of industrialization Rising revenues from the IT services sector is likely to be another reason for the growing service sector and has increased business confidence in Germany. The gross domestic product of Germany has shown strong signs of recovery following a few years of fluctuation caused by the 2008 financial crisis.

In 2023, there was an estimated 48.4 million people in the German potential labor force. This shows a slight increase from the year before.The term potential labor force describes the total of employed, unemployed and hidden assets, according to the Institute for the Job Market and Occupational Research (Research Institute of the Federal Labor Office). Hidden assets, according to the source, stand for unemployed people, those looking for work but have not registered as unemployed with an employment agency or those who would work if there were more jobs offered. The hidden assets are estimated using complex calculations by the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research. The potential labor force is the maximum number of all employable persons in Germany.

Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Germany was reported at 26.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Germany - Employment in industry (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This data compilation on the basis of official statistics of labor force gives a summarized overview over participation in work force in Germany.Those are the key themes of the compilation: - Overviews on population development (population by age groups, employable resident population by age groups and sex);- Resident population by participation in work force; - School leavers, trainees by se and by training area; - Labor force, working population, employment rates by age groups;- Working population by occupational status; - Working population by economic sectors;- Participation in labor force in the federal states;- Working time.The compilation contains data tables with (synthetic) annual averages as well as chosen results of the micro census. These data were complemented with data on employment from the national accounts after the revised version if ESA 95. Data tables in Histat:A. Overviews on population developmentA1 Population and areas (annual averages), former West Germany, newly formed German states, Germany (1946-2000)A2 Population by age group (at the end of each year), former West Germany, former GDR, Germany (1950-2000)A3 Employable resident population by age groups and sex (annual averages), former West Germany (1950-2000)A4a Employable resident population by age groups and sex (at the end of each year), Germany (1989-2000)A4b Employable resident population by age groups and sex (at the end of each year),Newly formed German states (1989-2000) B. Resident population by participation in work force B1 Tables with annual averages B1.1 Population, working population (nationals, residents) and employers (annual averages, national accounts), former West Germany, Germany (1950-1997)B1.2 Resident population, working population, employment rate, unemployed (annual averages is 1000), former West Germany, Germany (1950-1997)B1.3 Population by sex, foreigners (annual averages), former West Germany, Germany (1950-2000)B1.4 Population, employment and unemployment (annual averages), former West Germany, Germany (1950-1997)B1.5 Employees subject to mandatory social insurance contribution (end of June), former West Germany, Germany (1974-2000)B1.6 Employees (inland) in full-time and part time employment, short-time workers, unemployed (annual averages), former West Germany (1960-2000)B1.7 Foreign employees, unemployed foreigners (annual averages), former West Germany (1954-2000)B1.8 School leavers and trainees, former West Germany, Germany (1950-2000)B1.9 Trainees by sex and training areas (at the end of each year), former West Germany, Germany (1960-2000) B2 Tables with extrapolated results from the micro censusB2.1 Employable population, working population, unemployed, labor force altogether (micro census) former West Germany, Germany (1959-2000)B2.2 Employable population, working population, unemployed, labor force by sex (micro census), former West Germany, Germany (1959-2000)B2.3 Population by participation in labor force and sex (micro census), former West Germany, Newly formed German states (1957-2000)B2.4 Employees by volume of employment and sex (micro census), Former West Germany, newly formed German states, Germany (1985-2000)B2.5 Resident population by main income source and sex (micro census), former West Germany, newly formed German states, Germany (1975-2000)B2.6 Working population by nationality, occupational status and sex (micro census) former West Germany, Germany (1976-2000) B3 Revised results after ESA 95B3.1 Population, working population and employees (ESA 95), unemployed (ILO), former West Germany, Germany (1950-2000)B3.2 National working population: comparison of the revisions of the employment statistics, Germany (1991-2000) C. Working population, employees, employment rates by age groups C1 Tables with annual averages C2 Tables with extrapolated results from the micro censusC2.1a Employable resident population by age groups and sex in 1000 (micro census), Germany (1991-2000)C2.1b Employable resident population by age groups and sex in 1000 (micro census), former West Germany (1962-2000)C2.1c Employable resident population by age groups and sex in 1000 (micro census), newly formed German states (1991-2000)C2.2 Working population in 1000 by age groups (micro census), former West Germany, newly formed German states, Germany (1950-2000)C2.3 Labor force, employment rates by sex (micro census), former West Germany, Germany (1950-2000)C2.4 Labor force, employment rates and national working population by sex (annual averages) foreign employers, former West Germany, Germany (1950-1995)C2.5a Employment rates by age groups and sex (micro census), Germany (1991-2000)C2.5b Employment rates by age groups and sex (micro census), former West Germany (1959-2000)C2.5c Employment rates by age groups and sex (micro census), newly formed German states (1991-2000)C2.5d Employment rates by age groups and sex (micro census), former West Germany, Germany (1958-2000)C2.6a Labor force by age groups and sex...

Germany LF: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AF): Employment data was reported at 603.000 Person th in Jun 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 542.000 Person th for Mar 2024. Germany LF: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AF): Employment data is updated quarterly, averaging 678.500 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,221.000 Person th in Mar 1991 and a record low of 542.000 Person th in Mar 2024. Germany LF: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AF): Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010.

Germany LF: swda: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AF): Employment data was reported at 573.000 Person th in Jun 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 573.000 Person th for Mar 2024. Germany LF: swda: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AF): Employment data is updated quarterly, averaging 664.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,243.000 Person th in Mar 1991 and a record low of 569.000 Person th in Jun 2023. Germany LF: swda: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AF): Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010.

Germany LF: MC: Employment: DO: Hours Work data was reported at 2,591.821 Hour mn in Jun 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,819.576 Hour mn for Mar 2024. Germany LF: MC: Employment: DO: Hours Work data is updated quarterly, averaging 2,886.003 Hour mn from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,186.774 Hour mn in Mar 1991 and a record low of 2,413.649 Hour mn in Jun 2009. Germany LF: MC: Employment: DO: Hours Work data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010.

Keywords; Search terms: historical time series; historical statistics; histat / HISTAT . Abstract: The author’s aim is to give an overview of the development of the official German statistics and specially the official employment-statistics in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). Data-Sources of the official statistics of the GDR about the occupation has been:- four occupation censes, which has been carried out together with the population census (1950, 1964, 1971, 1981);- special surveys about the occupation carried out by the statistical service of the former GDR;- workplace-statistics and sector-specific reporting including information about employees, done by the SZS;- further statistical reporting by governmental organisations about employment. In order to realise comparability between the official statistics of the former GDR with the official statistics of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the Federal Statistical Office made substantial conversions and formed new statistical groups respectively (see special tables dealing with backward projection of the GDR-statistics, Table-Part D. and E.). Topics: Subcategorisation of the Study (Tables of the ZA-Database HISTAT):Some Data of the GDR-employment-statistics: I. The official employment statistics of the GDR:
A. Employed persons and population B. Employees and apprentices by occupational status C. Employees by economic sectors II. Making the former GDR’s labour force statistics comparable with the labour force statistics of the former Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) D. Federal Statistical Office, Wiesbaden: Some Information of backward projection of the GDR’s labour force statistics into FRG-classification („ Systematics of economic sectors“, Issue 1979 (WZ)“) III. Selected Information of population and occupation census (1950, 1964, 1971, 1981), according to the systematics of the Federal Statistics. E. Federal Statistical Office, Wiesbaden: Employees of the former GDR by population and occupation census (conversion 1964, 1971, 1981) according to („ Systematics of economic sectors“, Issue 1979 (WZ)“)

In late May 1939, just three months before the Second World War began in Europe, Germany's workforce was made up of almost 25 million men, 15 million women, and a very small number of foreign workers. The share of German men in the workforce decreased each year thereafter, as more were conscripted into the armed forces, and there were approximately 11 million fewer German male citizens in the workforce by September 1944. The number of German women fluctuated, but remained between 14 and 15 million throughout the given period, and it exceeded the number of German men in 1944. Despite the number of German men in the workforce dropping by 45 percent, the total number of workers in German was consistently around 36 million between 1940 and 1944, as this difference was offset by foreign and forced laborers. These workers were mostly drafted from annexed territories in Eastern Europe, and prisoners were transferred from concentration and POW camps to meet the labor demands in various areas of Germany.

Germany LF: swda: Mfg: Employment: Domestic Employees (DO) data was reported at 7,233.000 Person th in Jun 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7,248.000 Person th for Mar 2024. Germany LF: swda: Mfg: Employment: Domestic Employees (DO) data is updated quarterly, averaging 7,280.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10,094.000 Person th in Mar 1991 and a record low of 6,832.000 Person th in Mar 2010. Germany LF: swda: Mfg: Employment: Domestic Employees (DO) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010.

The number of employed people in Germany was about 43.06 million people in 2024. From 1980 to 2024, the number rose by around 8.53 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. Between 2024 and 2026, the number will decrease by approximately 100 thousand people.The indicator describes the number of employed people. This refers to persons who during a pre-defined period, either: a) performed wage or salary work, b) held a formal attachment to their job (even if not currently working), (c) performed for-profit work for personal or family gain , (d) were with an enterprise although temporarily not at work for any specific reason.

Germany LF: Construction: Employment: Hours Work data was reported at 1,004.016 Hour mn in Jun 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 991.040 Hour mn for Mar 2024. Germany LF: Construction: Employment: Hours Work data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,018.758 Hour mn from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,450.363 Hour mn in Sep 1996 and a record low of 848.547 Hour mn in Mar 2005. Germany LF: Construction: Employment: Hours Work data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies: Total Economy: Unfilled Vacancies for Germany (LMJVTTUVDEM647N) from Jan 1955 to Jan 2024 about job openings, jobs, vacancy, and Germany.

Germany LF: swda: TT: Employment: Hours Work data was reported at 3,336.531 Hour mn in Jun 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,331.412 Hour mn for Mar 2024. Germany LF: swda: TT: Employment: Hours Work data is updated quarterly, averaging 3,374.509 Hour mn from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,576.965 Hour mn in Mar 1991 and a record low of 3,006.839 Hour mn in Jun 2020. Germany LF: swda: TT: Employment: Hours Work data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

The present study aims to estimate the development of employment and wages in Germany based on accident insurance statistics. Data on the number of insured persons allow an estimation of employment by economic groups. Thereby it is important to take the increasing share of insured persons in the entire labor force in consideration. Data from the accident insurance is suitable for wage statistics because besides the values of the earned wages it also contains numbers on the yearly average of employees corrected for the number of working days. The investigation period is from 1888 to 1954 with the exception of the years of war and hyperinflation. The first three years after the introduction of the accident insurance are not taken into account as there are no reliable documents for this period. The analysis is restricted to the economic sectors which were subject to compulsory insurance since the beginning of the investigation period: industry, crafts and traffic. In the sector of traffic extra sources for data on railways were used. The increasing significance of the industrial sector regarding the overall economic employment volume as well as the income generation can be seen looking at the development of the number of employees and wages in relation to the per capita income growth. The industrialization process leads to structural changes in the entire economy which results in a steady relative decline in the agrarian sector. Within the industrial sector most chances and developments are in favor of the industries producing mainly investment goods. This process causes that the growth rates of industrial employment, of average wages and of the wage level primarily depend on those industry groups. Due to these different growth processes within the industrial sector a theoretical differentiation of the wage structure of both groups is necessary because the investment goods industries which has a higher need of expansion need to pay higher wages in order to get the necessary workforce for their expansion. At the beginning of the first world war the wage difference between the two industry groups has increased to 36,5% in 1913 ( it was only 26,5% in 1888). But in the following years there is not such a strong tendency. Probably the increasing power of trade unions caused a consolidation of the “traditional” wage structure. This is also supported by the fact that wage differences between all industries are quite small in the period after the First World War. The increases in real wages during the investigation period are smaller than 100%. This results in a yearly average increase of ca 1%. This is a development of real wages on a significantly lower level compared to other countries such as Sweden, France, Great Britain and The US. A reason for this is the missing real wage increase during the years of war and the first years after the war.

Register of tables in HISTAT: - Working population in thousands with their main profession in Germany (1882-1950) - Employees in Germany (1882-1954) - Index number for costs of living, nominal wages and real wages in Germany (1888-1954) - Development of average wages in the industry groups in the German (1888-1912) - Shares of different industry groups in the total labor force in Germany (1882-1954)

In 2025, registered job openings in Germany in the construction industry were vacant for an average of *** days. Openings in the hospitality industry were vacant for an average of *** days. The vacancy period measures the duration from the time when a desired vacancy should be filled until a vacancy is actually registered with the employment agency. There has been a major shortage of skilled workers in many sectors of the German labor market for years.

Germany LF: BS: Employment: Domestic Employees (DO) data was reported at 5,489.000 Person th in Jun 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,458.000 Person th for Mar 2024. Germany LF: BS: Employment: Domestic Employees (DO) data is updated quarterly, averaging 4,119.000 Person th from Mar 1991 (Median) to Jun 2024, with 134 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,538.000 Person th in Dec 2023 and a record low of 1,859.000 Person th in Mar 1991. Germany LF: BS: Employment: Domestic Employees (DO) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistisches Bundesamt. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.G010: Labour Force: By Industry: ESA 2010.

Keywords; Search terms: historical time series; historical statistics; histat / HISTAT .

Abstract:

The author’s aim is to give an overview of the development of the official German statistics and specially the official employment-statistics in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR).

Data-Sources of the official statistics of the GDR about the occupation has been: - four occupation censes, which has been carried out together with the population census (1950, 1964, 1971, 1981); - special surveys about the occupation carried out by the statistical service of the former GDR; - workplace-statistics and sector-specific reporting including information about employees, done by the SZS; - further statistical reporting by governmental organisations about employment.

In order to realise comparability between the official statistics of the former GDR with the official statistics of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), the Federal Statistical Office made substantial conversions and formed new statistical groups respectively (see special tables dealing with backward projection of the GDR-statistics, Table-Part D. and E.).

Topics:

Subcategorisation of the Study (Tables of the ZA-Database HISTAT): Some Data of the GDR-employment-statistics:

I. The official employment statistics of the GDR:

A. Employed persons and population

B. Employees and apprentices by occupational status

C. Employees by economic sectors

II. Making the former GDR’s labour force statistics comparable with the labour force statistics of the former Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)

D. Federal Statistical Office, Wiesbaden: Some Information of backward projection of the GDR’s labour force statistics into FRG-classification („ Systematics of economic sectors“, Issue 1979 (WZ)“)

III. Selected Information of population and occupation census (1950, 1964, 1971, 1981), according to the systematics of the Federal Statistics.

E. Federal Statistical Office, Wiesbaden: Employees of the former GDR by population and occupation census (conversion 1964, 1971, 1981) according to („ Systematics of economic sectors“, Issue 1979 (WZ)“)

Revenue in the Temporary Employment Agency industry is anticipated to drop at a compound annual rate of 4% in the five years through 2024 to €236.5 billion. The COVID-19 outbreak meant key employers of temporary workers in the hospitality and tourist sector shut their doors, and companies froze hiring due to economic uncertainty - a sizeable blow to revenue in the three years through 2022. Workers on temporary contracts represented a significant chuck of employment losses in all quarters of 2020. According to Eurostat data, temporary employment declined across Europe in the four years from 2017 to 2020, dipping from 13.8% to 11.9%. Since COVID-19 has slowed, companies have resumed hiring as confidence levels have been restored and vacancy levels have soared. An increasingly tight labour market encourages employers to rely on temporary employment placement agencies to fight in an increasingly competitive market. Several countries rank highly in terms of temporary workers with a large short-term job market. In 2022, the Netherlands and Spain have more than 15% of employed people under temporary contracts, according to Eurostat. Industry revenue is expected to shrink by 1.6% in 2024. Revenue is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.5% in the five years through 2029 to €295.4 billion. With the labour market is likely to remain tight in many countries due to skill mismatches, employers will keep turning to placement agencies for their databases to track and identify the right candidates. Companies will lean on temporary hires as the economic outlook remains unclear and inflation keeps squeezing budgets. The automation of more routine jobs will be a threat to some long-standing temporary jobs. Across Europe, countries that traditionally rely on a strong network of short-term workers are implanting policies that may disrupt or expand services. Spain has already introduced reforms that are taking effect to increase permanent positions and remove temporary contracts, while Italy is expanding its voucher scheme to encourage temporary hires.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies: Total Economy: Registered Unemployment for Germany (LMUNRRTTDEM156S) from Jan 1969 to Jan 2024 about Germany, unemployment, and rate.