Key facts
- Germany's unemployment fell by 1,000 in June, contrary to expectations of an increase.
- The total number of unemployed individuals in Germany decreased to 2.984 million.
- The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.3% in June.
- Germany reported a 3.8% unemployment rate in April 2026, one of the lowest in the EU.
- The overall EU-27 unemployment rate stood at 6.0% in April 2026.
The number of unemployed individuals in Germany unexpectedly decreased by 1,000 in June, defying economists' forecasts of a 7,000 increase. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 6.3%, consistent with the previous month. The total number of unemployed people in Germany fell to 2.984 million.
Andrea Nahles, head of the labour office, stated that there were "little signs of change in the labour market," noting that unemployment was falling only slightly and employment subject to social security contributions continued its slight downward trend. Historical data shows Germany's unemployment rate averaged 6.03% from 1950 to 2026, with a record high of 12.10% in March 2005 and a low of 0.40% in March 1966.
In April 2026, Germany reported an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is among the lowest in the EU-27. The overall EU-27 unemployment rate for the same period was 6.0%, with Finland and Spain recording the highest rates. Germany also had one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in the EU at 7.2% in April 2026.