Recent Press Releases
Fewer Appeals and Complaints in Basic Security Benefits
Number of appeals and complaints fell again in 2020 - Appeal rate in joint institutions at 2.3 percent
Annual Review 2020
Labour Market under Heavy Pressure due to Corona Crisis
The Labour Market in December 2020
Short-time work is stabilising, seasonally adjusted unemployment continues to decline
Child Benefit to Increase as of January
More Money for Families with Lower Incomes
Child benefits to increase starting in January
Starting in January the highest increase in child benefits since 2010 will take place
New Pilot Project on Skilled Worker Immigration Launched
The Federal Employment Agency (BA) and DIHK Service GmbH are launching “Hand in Hand for international Talents”, a new project to attract skilled workers from Brazil, India and Vietnam to Germany.
€ 2.7 Billion for Participation in the Working Lives of People with Disabilities
The Federal Employment Agency (BA) is using the International Day of People with Disabilities as an opportunity to promote inclusion in the workplace. The BA budget for next year includes € 2.7 billion to support people with disabilities.
The Labour Market in November 2020
Further seasonally adjusted decline in unemployment despite partial lockdown
BA Budget 2021 allows for stabilisation of training and employment in difficult times
The Administrative Board of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA) today adopted the budget for 2021. At the same time, the committee temporarily approved up to 5,500 additional employees.
Christina Ramb elected as new Chair of the BA Administrative Board
Three women head the Administrative Board of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit
The Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency) and Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (German Business Foundation)
Committed to strengthening vocational orientation in upper secondary schools
Apprenticeship market report for 2019/20:
corona crisis leads to clear backlog
The labour market in October 2020
The corona crisis has clearly left its mark but improvements can be seen
30th anniversary of German reunification
Labour market drawing closer together in the east and west
Nationwide Pilot Project from BA, BAVC and IG BCE
Together for More and Better Qualification
The labour market in September 2020
Effects of the corona crisis still clearly visible despite slight improvement
Ministerial visit in turbulent times: Hubertus Heil visits the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg
The Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil, has been holding meetings with the BA’s administrative board, board of directors, general staff council and employees to discuss the special challenges presented by the corona pandemic.
Federal Employment Agency wins 2020 Digital Leader Award
An independent jury of digitisation experts from business, science and the media has recognised the Federal Employment Agency (BA) for setting new standards for the benefit of society
Child bonus
Family welfare office gives a positive intermediate assessment.
The labour market in August 2020
no corona-related rise in unemployment again
Over one million child benefit claims have been handed over to the Family Office of the Federal Employment Agency
Since 1 January 2017, over 17,000 public-sector family offices in Germany have been handing over the processing of their child benefit claims to the Family Office of the Federal Employment Agency (FamKa BA), and an important milestone was reached in July 2020: FamKa BA became responsible for child benefits for over one million children.
Federal programme to secure apprenticeships starts on 1 August
Joint press release
The labour market in July 2020
No further rise in unemployment as a result of corona
Annelie Buntenbach steps down from the Administrative Board
Annelie Buntenbach, the alternate Chairwoman of the Administrative Board, has stepped down from her honorary post at the BA.
The labour market in June 2020
Stabilised by extensive short-time work
Selfie identity checks in times of social distancing
The local offices of the Agentur für Arbeit are providing an online identification option for customers who cannot register as unemployed in person during the ongoing corona pandemic.
The labour market in May 2020
Continued pressure in the corona crisis
Ensuring dual training in the corona crisis:
The partners in the Alliance for Initial and Further Training agree measures to stabilise dual training
Fake malware emails being sent to employers
The Federal Employment Agency (BA) would like to warn employers about fraudulent emails that are currently in circulation.
Temporary extension of eligibility period for unemployment benefits – extension to be automatically approved
Today, on 15 May 2020, the Upper and Lower Houses of the German Parliament discussed and passed a second welfare package (Sozialschutzpaket II), including the extension of unemployment benefits. The law will be published in the Federal Law Gazette over the coming week.
Short-time working allowance secures jobs but is not instant liquidity support for companies
Around 750,000 companies have reported plans to reduce their employees’ working hours since the beginning of March. Many of them are claiming short-time working allowance for the first time. This is leading to several questions and sometimes even uncertainty when it comes to claiming such payments, as discovered by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) in recent telephone consultations. Their questions range from the reporting process to the transfer of short-time working allowance.
That is why we have provided some answers to frequently asked questions about the requirements, the process and the settlement of short-time working allowance.
The labour market in April 2020
Growing pressure in the corona crisis
Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenter continue to develop their telephone and online services:
Health and safety is our main concern
Since 18 March, the local Agentur für Arbeit and Jobcenter branches that are run jointly with the local authorities throughout Germany have reduced their personal contact with customers and are now dealing with more enquiries over the phone or online.
Short-time working arrangements skyrocket before flattening out
Total number of reports has stagnated over the past week
Plans to reduce working hours reported by one in three companies
Plans to reduce working hours reported by 725,000 companies
Number of reports rises by 12% in one week
BA bolsters its workforce
Drop in the number of annual sanctions
three out of four benefit reductions due to missed appointments
Sharp growth in number of reported short-time working arrangements
Plans to reduce working hours reported by more and more companies
Fake email being sent to employers on short-time working allowance
The Federal Employment Agency (BA) would like to warn employers about a fraudulent email. The senders want to access personal data.
Short-time working allowance: additional income from sideline activities in important occupations
In light of the current crisis, the German government has made it easier for people to supplement their short-time working allowance. Anyone who helps out in systemically important sectors and occupations can now make up for their financial losses.
Short-time work on the rise
Hubertus Heil (Federal Minister of Labour) and Detlef Scheele (Chairman of the BA) on the state of the German labour market in March
The labour market in March 2020
Seasonal decline in unemployment before intensification of the corona crisis
New regulations for basic security benefits
In light of the current situation, the German government has approved a welfare package to facilitate access to basic security benefits.
Deadline for the submission of notices for the employment of disabled persons extended until 30 June 2020
Employers now have until 30 June 2020 to submit notices for the employment of disabled persons. The same applies to the payment of compensatory levies.
Applications for basic security benefits to be simplified for the time being
The government is planning new temporary regulations for the consideration of assets and the temporary recognition of actual housing costs
Noticeable rise in short-time working arrangements
After conducting monitoring interviews with all Agentur für Arbeit offices in Germany, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) has detected a sharp rise in short-time working arrangements in light of the current situation.
Cash payments assured
Jobcenter and Agentur für Arbeit offices working behind closed doors
Telephone network overloaded
calls to Jobcenter and Agentur für Arbeit limited to emergencies
Personal contact to be reduced
Customers can still contact their Jobcenter and Agentur für Arbeit
The labour market in February 2020
further stable development despite weak economy
Applications for child allowance can now be made online
You can now make an application for child allowance online. It’s quick and easy, there’s no paperwork, and you can do it whenever and wherever you like.
Better advice for the recognition of professional qualifications from abroad
Central Service Centre for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications opens in Bonn