Overview
- Annual-average employment fell by about 15,000 to 2.049 million, a 0.7% decrease from 2024.
- Cuts were concentrated in manufacturing, construction and agriculture, while public and health services added roughly 6,000 positions.
- Employees accounted for the largest numerical drop, and the steepest percentage decline was among the self-employed and contributing family members, with mini-jobs also down.
- Nationally, employment was nearly unchanged as western states edged up 0.1% and all five eastern states declined, ranging from −1.1% in Thuringia to +0.9% in Hamburg.
- The downturn follows a smaller 0.3% decline in 2024, continuing a weakening trend reported by the statistical office.