Germany’s unemployment figures have presented a mixed picture in September 2025. Data released Tuesday by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) indicates a significant increase in the overall number of registered unemployed individuals, rising by 148,000 compared to the same month last year.
However, a decrease of 70,000 was observed when comparing September 2025 to the previous month, bringing the total number of individuals registered as seeking employment to 2.955 million. Seasonally adjusted, the unemployment figure increased by 14,000 compared to August 2025, pushing the unemployment rate up by 0.1 percentage points to 6.3%.
Andrea Nahles, head of the BA, commented on the data, noting that the seasonal decline in unemployment and underemployment typically occurs in September. She emphasized that the labor market requires additional stimulus for a more robust recovery.
Underemployment, which includes unemployment alongside other factors such as participation in labor market policy programs and short-term work inability, provides a broader view of the labor situation. Seasonally adjusted, underemployment decreased by 3,000 compared to the previous month, reaching 3.582 million – an increase of 19,000 year-on-year.
The number of registered job openings reported to the BA totaled 630,000 in September 2025, a reduction of 66,000 compared to the same period last year. The BA Job Index (BA-X), an indicator reflecting labor demand in Germany, remained unchanged at 98 points. This represents a decline of nine points compared to September 2024.
An estimated 1.006 million individuals received unemployment benefits in September 2025, an increase of 117,000 compared to the previous year. The number of citizens eligible for basic income support (Bürgergeld) is estimated at 3.854 million, down 119,000 compared to September 2024. This indicates that 7.0% of the working-age population in Germany require income-related support.
