The Federal Employment Agency presented new figures: in Germany, 2.6 million people are unemployed, while at the same time there are 713,000 vacant jobs.

As German media report, the unemployment rate is rising, while companies are simultaneously desperately looking for workers.

Eight out of ten jobs require qualified workers

Whether in retail, care, or hospitality – workers are lacking everywhere in Germany. Today, even shops are limiting opening hours because there is no one to serve customers!

At the same time, the number of unemployed is also rising, reaching 2.637 million people in December, Andrea Nahles, president of the Federal Employment Agency, announced on Wednesday.

“Out of ten registered job vacancies, eight employers are looking for skilled workers. But 61 percent of job seekers are looking only for assistant jobs because they have no qualifications,” Nahles told German media.

Staff are not needed everywhere

Andrea Nahles also speaks of two labor markets: “One characterized by growth, especially in the service sector, and a shortage of qualified workers. On the other hand, unfortunately, we are also noticing that unemployment is rising,” Nahles said.

And that is also due to regional differences: “We have areas where workers are desperately sought and other areas where unemployment is relatively high.” In addition, many companies are currently more likely to retain workers than hire new ones. The number of vacant jobs fell by 68,000.

Andrea Nahles: “The goal is always work”

But Andrea Nahles remains very clear: “The citizen's allowance is a benefit that represents the minimum for subsistence, but it is also one in which we say that we want to help people in their need for assistance. The goal is always work,” she says.

Source: fenix-magazin.de