Unemployment figures rose in July, according to data published by the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) in Nuremberg on Friday. The number of unemployed people reached 3.007,000, marking an increase of 28,000 compared to the same period last year, and an even sharper rise of 71,000 compared to the previous month, June.
Even when seasonally adjusted, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 6,000 compared to the previous month, according to the BA. Consequently, the current unemployment rate stands at 6.4 percent, up from 6.2 percent in June and 6.3 percent exactly one year prior.
Daniel Terzenbach, a member of the BA management board, commented that “unemployment and underemployment are noticeably increasing in July, primarily due to seasonal reasons,” while adding that the overall weak trend in the labor market continued.
Demand for labor remains comparatively sluggish. In July, the BA recorded 653,000 available job openings, which represents only a 25,000 increase compared to last year.
The training market is also experiencing significant tension. Since October 2025, the employment agencies and Jobcenters have recorded 418,000 applicants seeking vocational training positions, an increase of 4,000 compared to the same month last year. Meanwhile, 126,000 individuals reported that their job search for training was successful by July, a decrease of 11,000 compared to the previous year.
At the same time, 147,000 young people have neither found a training position nor an alternative. Concurrently, 162,000 training slots are still unfilled. The BA notes that there are a total of 437,000 reported training positions, which is 35,000 fewer than in July 2025.
