The number of insolvencies for both private and capital companies in Germany showed a slight increase in October. According to the insolvency trend published by the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH) on Tuesday, the figure reached 1,683 in the tenth month of the year. This represents a one percent increase from September and a nine percent rise compared to October of 2025. Furthermore, when compared to the average October between 2016 and 2019-the period prior to the Corona pandemic-the current number is 83 percent higher. In Hessen, 180 insolvencies were recorded, marking the highest value since the IWH began its surveys in January 2020.
In the largest ten percent of the insolvent companies, approximately 16,800 jobs were affected in October. This figure reflects a 45 percent increase over the previous month, a 21 percent increase compared to the same time last year, and is more than double (+104 percent) the level seen in the average October of the pre-pandemic years (2016-2019).
A total of roughly 9,400 jobs in the manufacturing industry were impacted nationwide, a second-highest figure since the IWH’s surveys started in January 2020. Only September 2024 recorded a greater impact, with approximately 10,500 jobs affected. Baden-Württemberg hit a new peak with about 6,500 jobs affected. Among the most well-known insolvency filings in Germany in October were VARTA AG and several related companies.
Steffen Müller, director of IWH’s insolvency research, commented that “Insolvency figures continue to remain at an exceptionally high level. Moreover, October saw significantly more jobs affected than the previous month.” However, he added that the early indicators provide a glimmer of hope, suggesting a possible reduction in insolvency numbers by the end of the year.
