In January the number of unemployed people in Lower Saxony and Bremen increased compared with the previous month. In Lower Saxony 285,394 people were jobless, 16,684 more than in December, and the unemployment rate rose to 6.3 %. In Bremen the figure climbed to 43,905, 1,909 more than in December, with a rate of 11.7 %. The Federal Employment Agency explained that this seasonal pattern is common, as many fixed‑term contracts expire at year‑end.
Against the backdrop of the same month last year, unemployment in both states was higher. Lower Saxony had 4,767 more unemployed persons, and Bremen had 782 more. The Agency also noted a marked rise in the share of people receiving unemployment benefits after losing a job, attributing this to a general economic slowdown, and observed an increase in the long‑term unemployment stock.
Despite the pressure, the labour market remains resilient, said Johannes Pfeiffer, head of the Federal Employment Agency for the region. Paid employment remains at a high level. To mitigate personnel surpluses, the Agency uses “Arbeitsmarktdrehscheiben” – a tool that transfers surplus staff from firms with excess capacity to those with hiring needs. In both regions, under‑employment has fallen compared with the previous year, indicating a positive trend.
