Above all, company-related service providers, the hospitality and hotel industry and the information and telecommunications industry are looking for staff.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Despite the uncertainty about the economic impact of the war in Ukraine, as well as concerns about energy shortages and rising prices, the labor market has been developing robustly so far. The new chairwoman of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), Andrea Nahles, said at her first presentation of the labor market data in Nuremberg: “Unemployment and underemployment increased again more strongly in August than is usual for the season.” However, this is still due to the recording of Ukrainian refugees.
On the other hand, Nahles is concerned about the situation on the training market. In the coming year, one must use all one’s strength to resist the downward trend in dual training, because this is a “heart” of the economy that Germany is envied by many countries.
The number of unemployed rose by 77,000 to 2.55 million in August compared to the previous month, and the unemployment rate increased by 0.2 points to 5.6 percent. Compared to August last year, the number of unemployed fell by 31,000. For the August statistics, the Federal Agency was able to draw on figures that were available up to August 11th.
The increase compared to July has mainly to do with the Ukrainian refugees, who are no longer registered under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act but under basic security and therefore also appear in the unemployment statistics.
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The influence can also be seen in the case of underemployment, which, in addition to the unemployed, also takes into account people who are in support measures or who are temporarily unable to work due to illness. In August it was a good 3.28 million people – that was a seasonally adjusted 45,000 more than in the previous month. If you exclude the Ukrainian refugees, underemployment has remained almost the same.
Continued high demand for workers
Short-time work continues to decline. According to extrapolated data, 259,000 people in Germany received short-time work benefits in June. The number of notifications of short-time work – one of the first indicators of problems in companies – was only 36,000 in August.
The demand for labor continues to be high.
(Photo: dpa)
Despite the political and economic uncertainties, none of the leading indicators point to a dramatic turnaround on the labor market, said Nahles. “The demand for workers is still at a very high level.” In August, 887,000 vacancies were reported to the employment agencies, 108,000 more than a year ago.
Above all, company-related service providers, the hospitality and hotel industry and the information and telecommunications industry are looking for staff. Employment subject to social security contributions was a good 34.4 million in June, the highest it has been this month.
Nahles used the presentation of the labor market data to once again promote dual training, which she says is “a special concern”. After the corona pandemic, companies are again offering more training positions, with 526,000 registered by August, 20,000 more than a year ago.
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However, the number of applicants for training continues to decline. From October 2021 to August 2022, 408,000 young people looked for an apprenticeship at an employment agency or a job center, 13,000 fewer than in the same period last year.
The number of unemployed rose to 2.547 million.
(Photo: ddp)
While 182,000 training positions could not be filled by August, 112,000 applicants were still unplaced. There are several reasons for this, said Nahles, for example that the candidates do not live where there are vacancies for apprenticeships. Often the desired job and training offer did not go together or the applicants still lacked school or social skills.
The BA boss appealed to young people to open up to jobs that might not be their dream job and to advertise more regionally. And employers must give even more opportunities to young people who may not be the ideal candidates right away.
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