Germany’s job market continued its upward trajectory this spring, with the second quarter of 2024 witnessing a slight increase in employment. The Federal Statistical Office reported a seasonally adjusted rise of 0.1 percent compared to the previous quarter, bringing the total number of employed and self-employed individuals to 46.1 million.
This positive trend also translates to an annual growth of 0.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023, German news agency dpa reported. However, these figures lag behind the European Union average, which saw a 0.7 percent quarterly and 0.8 percent annual increase in the second quarter. The last time Germany experienced a decline in employment was in the first quarter of 2021, a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service sector emerged as the primary driver of job creation, adding 229,000 new positions. In contrast, the industrial and construction sectors continued to face job losses, with 65,000 fewer employees compared to the previous year, reflecting sluggish economic conditions.
The number of self-employed individuals, including those assisting family members, also experienced a decline, dropping by 29,000 to reach 3.8 million. This figure stands in contrast to the 42.3 million employees, representing a 0.5 percent increase or 196,000 more individuals compared to the previous year.Â
On average, employed individuals worked 318.2 hours during the second quarter, marking a 0.4 percent increase from the previous quarter.
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