Nuremberg (dpa -AFX) – The number of unemployed in Germany decreased by 3000 to 2.989 million people in February compared to the previous month. However, that is 175,000 more than in February 2024. The unemployment rate remained 6.4 percent in the month comparison, as the Federal Employment Agency (BA) in Nuremberg announced.
“The economic weakness remains visible on the labor market in February,” said board member Daniel Terzenbach. The number of people without a job in February increased by 5,000 even in February.
More short -time work, less vacancies
In the case of short -time work, the BA continued to record an increased level. According to the preliminary extrapolated figures from December 2024, 222,000 employees received economic short -time money. In comparison: During the Corona pandemic, the maximum of 6 million people in the meantime.
From the 1st to February 24th, companies also showed short -time work for 55,000 employees – and thus approximately for as many as in the previous month. How many people actually use short -time work cannot be said in advance.
The demand for workers continued. According to the BA, 639,000 vacancies were registered in February – 67,000 fewer than a year ago.
From November to December, the number of employees subject to social security contributions increased by 12,000 to 35 million people after the BA. That is 80,000 more than a year earlier./igl/dp/jha