The German labor market was stable in 2022 despite economic uncertainties such as the Ukraine war, inflation and the energy crisis. According to the authority, the average number of unemployed for the year was 2.418 million. That was 195,000 fewer than in the previous year.
It was an extremely difficult year with multiple burdens such as a pandemic, the Ukraine war, inflation and the energy crisis, said Andrea Nahles, Chairwoman of the Federal Employment Agency, on Tuesday in Nuremberg. These also left their mark, but in view of the many challenges, these were moderate. “We have also seen here how the economy and the labor market are increasingly decoupling.”
According to the authority, the average number of unemployed for the year was 2.418 million. That was 195,000 fewer than in the previous year. The annual average unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 5.3 percent compared to 2021. From the middle of the year, however, the recording of Ukrainian refugees led to an increase in unemployment and underemployment, where people are recorded in measures such as integration courses.
Short-time work also decreased significantly in 2022 compared to the two previous years. However, the situation clouded over in the second half of the year as a result of the energy crisis, so that the estimated annual average of around 430,000 short-time workers was still higher than in the pre-corona year 2019. In 2021, the annual average was still 1.85 million people on short-time work.
From Nahles’ point of view, 2023 will again be characterized by uncertainties. Above all, the shortage of skilled workers will be a priority, she said. In 2023, the focus should therefore be on strengthening dual training again, which has suffered badly from the pandemic. The immigration of skilled workers as well as qualification and further training of employees and the unemployed are also important in this context.
