According to the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), the total number of unemployed people in Germany rose by 22,000 in June 2026 compared to the same month last year. However, this was offset by a decrease of 15,000 from the preceding month, bringing the total to 2.936 million.
When adjusted for seasonal variations, the number of unemployed individuals fell by 1,000 people compared to the previous month, and the unemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percentage points to 6.2%.
Andrea Nahles, the head of the BA, commented on the labor market in Nuremberg on Tuesday, noting that changes are minimal. She stated that unemployment is decreasing only slightly while the trend of a slight decline in mandatory social insurance employment continues.
For a more comprehensive view, the agency tracks “underemployment,” which encompasses unemployment itself, as well as labor market policies and short-term inability to work. Seasonally adjusted, the underemployment figure saw a drop of 8,000 from the previous month, reaching 3.605 million in June-a figure 19,000 higher than a year prior.
Key indicators showed minor activity in the job market. The BA reported 648,000 job openings in June, which is 16,000 more than the same period a year ago. The BA Job Index (BA-X), an indicator of demand for personnel that considers both existing vacancies and access to registered jobs, remained stable at 103 points in June 2026.
Concerning benefits, 1.052 million people received unemployment benefits, an amount 90,000 higher than a year ago. Based on projections, the total number of citizens eligible for public assistance was 3.804 million, representing a decrease of 104,000 compared to June 2025. The Federal Employment Agency estimates that 7.0 percent of all people in the working-age population in Germany required assistance.
