German unemployment rate falls to 6.4%, but 3 million still jobless

Germany's unemployment rate inched down to 6.4% in March, the Federal Employment Agency said on Tuesday, but the number of jobless people remained above the significant 3 million mark.

The number of unemployed people fell by 49,000 to 3.021 million in March, the largest decline in the month of March since 2022. This pushed the unemployment rate down by 0.1 percentage point from February's mark.

However, 54,000 more people were jobless compared to March 2025.

“As usual, the spring upturn begins in March – though this year without any significant momentum,” said Andrea Nahles, head of the Nuremberg-based agency.

German unemployment has been rising again in recent years amid the country's economic struggles, with a third consecutive year of recession having been narrowly avoided in 2025.

In March, 1.104 million people received the main unemployment benefit, 98,000 more than in March 2025.

According to an estimate by the Federal Employment Agency, the number of recipients of other income support measures stood at 3.82 million – 147,000 fewer than a year earlier.

Many recipients are working, but their earnings must be supplemented to cover the cost of living.

Labour demand has stabilized at a low level, with a total of 638,000 job vacancies reported to employment agencies in March, down 5,000 from a year ago.