“The traditional spring upturn has remained comparatively weak in April. Unemployment and underemployment are indeed falling, but in seasonally-adjusted terms, the changes have only been minor”, explained Andrea Nahles, Chair of the Federal Employment Agency, at today’s annual press conference in Nuremberg.

Number of unemployed persons in April:
-36,000 to 2,932,000
Number of unemployed persons compared with the same time last year:
+182,000
Unemployment rate in comparison with the previous month:
-0.1 percentage points to 6.3 percent

Unemployment, underemployment and economic inactivity 

In the course of the spring upturn, in April 2025, unemployment fell by 36,000 to 2,932,000. On a seasonally-adjusted basis, it increased by 4,000 compared with the previous month. In comparison with April last year, 182,000 more people were unemployed. The unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points in comparison with the previous month to 6.3 percent. In comparison with the same month last year, the rate had increased by 0.3 percentage points. In March, the unemployment rate determined by the Federal Statistical Office according to the ILO concept of employment came to 3.7 percent.
On a seasonally-adjusted basis, underemployment, which along with unemployment also includes short-term incapacity to work, fell by 3,000 compared with the previous month. In April, underemployment amounted to 3,638,000. That was 69,000 more than one year ago. 

Short-time work

Before the start of short-time work, companies are required to submit a notification regarding the expected loss of work. According to current data, from 1st to 24th April inclusive, cyclical short-time work was reported for 37,000 people.
The latest data on the actual take-up is available until February 2025. According to the initially projected data, the cyclical allowance for short-time work was paid to 244,000 workers in that month. That was 14,000 fewer than in the previous month, but 43,000 more than in the February of the previous year.

Economic activity and employment

According to the Federal Statistical Office, in March 2025, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the number of economically active persons (according to the domestic concept) increased by 6,000 compared with the previous month. At 45.87 million people, this total had fallen by 57,000 in comparison with the previous year. According to the forecasts of the Federal Employment Agency, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, employment subject to social security contributions increased by 12,000 people between January and February 2025. In comparison with the previous year, such employment had increased by 67,000 to reach 34.84 million employed persons, with the increase solely accounted for by foreign citizens. In February 2025, 7.52 million people were in low-paid “mini job” employment, 24,000 more than in the same month last year. Of this total, for 4.10 million people, this low-paid employment was their only job, while for 3.42 million, it was just a side job.

The demand for labour

In April, 646,000 job vacancies were registered with the BA, 55,000 fewer than one year ago. In April 2025, the BA Jobs Index (BA X) – an indicator of the demand for personnel in Germany, which also takes the number of new job vacancies as well as those already registered into account – increased by 1 point to 105 points. In comparison with the same month last year, the BA-X recorded a fall of 6 points.

Cash benefits for unemployment and persons requiring support

In April 2025, according to the projections of the Federal Employment Agency, 993,000 people were in receipt of Unemployment Benefit, which is 131,000 more than one year ago. The projected number of people able to work and entitled to Citizen’s Benefit in April was 3,959,000. In comparison with April 2024, this was a decrease of 58,000 people. This means that 7.2 percent of people of working age living in Germany were in need of support.

The market for vocational training and apprenticeships

Since October 2024, 354,000 applicants have registered for a vocational training position at the agencies for employment and Jobcenters, which is 12,000 more than in the same period of the previous year. At 430,000, approximately 25,000 fewer vocational training places were registered as available in comparison with the same period of the previous year. In April, the market for apprenticeships remains very busy, however. Therefore, the latest data only allows for a preliminary assessment of the developments.