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German unemployment rises slightly in February

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 27, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 2, 2026

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BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The number of unemployed people in Germany rose slightly in February, labour office figures showed on Friday, as the economic weakness of the past three years continues to

German Unemployment Ticks Up in February as Jobless Rate Holds at 6.3%

German Labour Market Update: February Figures and Economic Context

Unemployment Rises Slightly in February

BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The number of unemployed people in Germany rose slightly in February, labour office figures showed on Friday, as the economic weakness of the past three years continues to weigh on the job market in Europe's biggest economy.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the jobless figure rose by 1,000 to 2.977 million in February, up from 2.976 million the month before. Analysts and economists had predicted an increase by 2,000 in a Reuters poll.

Jobless Rate Holds Steady at 6.3%

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged at 6.3% compared to a month earlier, in line with the forecast.

Labour Office Commentary

"Even at the end of the winter break, the labour market is still struggling to gain momentum," labour office head Andrea Nahles said in a statement.

Broader Economic Backdrop and Policy Response

Spending Plans and Delayed Impact

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to pull Germany out of its downturn by sharply boosting infrastructure and defence spending, but the impact of those measures is taking longer than expected to materialise on the ground.

Reporting and Editing Credits

(Reporting by Linda Pasquini, Editing by Friederike Heine)

Key Takeaways

  • Labour market still flat: February’s +1,000 seasonally adjusted increase (to ~2.98m) with the rate unchanged at 6.3% suggests ongoing stagnation rather than a clear deterioration—matching Nahles’ assessment that momentum remains weak. (tradingeconomics.com)
  • Seasonal vs underlying picture: While seasonally adjusted unemployment edged up, unadjusted unemployment fell to about 3.07m from January’s ~3.08m, consistent with typical post-winter easing—highlighting why the adjusted series matters for trend. (tradingeconomics.com)
  • Policy backdrop: Merz’s planned ramp-up in infrastructure and defence spending (including a €500bn multi-year infrastructure fund and looser constraints for some defence outlays) is aimed at reigniting growth, but the labour market impact is likely to lag. (npr.org)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did unemployment change in Germany in February?
In seasonally adjusted terms, the number of unemployed people rose by 1,000 to 2.977 million in February.
What was Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February?
The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was unchanged at 6.3% compared with the previous month.
What did the labour office say about current labour market conditions?
Labour office head Andrea Nahles said the labour market is still struggling to gain momentum, even at the end of the winter break.
What policy measures were mentioned as intended to address Germany’s downturn?
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to boost infrastructure and defence spending, though the article notes the impact is taking longer than expected to materialise.

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