Overview
- The Federal Employment Agency, which reported Tuesday, said registered unemployment fell by 49,000 to 3.021 million and the rate eased to 6.4 percent.
- After seasonal adjustment, unemployment was flat in March and the total was about 54,000 higher than a year ago, signaling no underlying turnaround.
- Hiring demand stayed weak with 638,000 vacancies, 1.104 million people on unemployment insurance, and about 3.82 million receiving Bürgergeld, Germany’s basic income support.
- Regional data showed small monthly declines in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg, rising youth joblessness in parts of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, and wide gaps between low and high jobless areas.
- Agency leaders warned that fallout from the Iran war and uncertain energy costs could push back a real recovery and keep firms from adding staff.