Unemployment in Germany falls below three million in September

The number of unemployed in Germany fell just below the three million mark in September.

The Federal Employment Agency recorded 2.994 million unemployed, as the authority in Nuremberg announced. This corresponds to a decrease of 67,000 compared to August. However, there are still 40,000 more unemployed than in September 2025. The unemployment rate fell from 6.6 percent in August to 6.5 percent, which is 0.1 percentage point higher than a year ago.

If we exclude seasonal influences, the number of unemployed rose by 12,000 in September. In July it surpassed the three million mark for the first time since April, which happens regularly during the summer break. A so-called autumn revival usually sets in at the end of summer because companies usually hire more employees.

Andrea Nahles, head of the Federal Employment Agency, described the slight upswing this month as “lacking momentum.” The recent improvement in the economy “is not yet being reflected in the labor market,” said the former SPD politician.