German Industry Employment Falls to 6.6 Million, Cutting Labor-Market Share to 19%

3 articles · Updated · KFGO · Jun 17

6.6 million people worked in German industry in 2025, the lowest level in a decade, according to a study by the German Economic Institute.
The drop was driven less by layoffs than by companies holding back on refilling vacancies and hiring new staff, signaling weaker future employment trends.
19% of Germany's workforce is now in industry, down from 22% in 2014, adding to the country's debate over deindustrialisation.
Industrial employers have also become less attractive because their wage advantage over other sectors has roughly halved over the past 10 years, the study said.

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