Wiesbaden – September 15, 2026 -- Real revenue in Germany's licensed craft trades sector fell 1.4% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported in preliminary figures. Employment in the sector dropped 1.9% by the end of June 2026 versus a year earlier.
Six of seven trade groups post revenue declines as construction and food sectors lead losses
The finishing trades, commercial-need trades and food trades each recorded the steepest real revenue drops among licensed craft groups, falling 2.4% year-on-year in the second quarter. Main construction trades saw revenue decline 1.8%, followed by private-need trades at -1.6% and the health trade at -1.0%. The automotive trade was the only group to post growth, with revenue rising 0.4%.
Food trade employment shrinks 3.5%, steepest decline across licensed craft groups
Across the seven licensed craft trade groups, total employment fell 1.9% by end-June 2026 compared with the prior year. The food trade recorded the sharpest workforce contraction at 3.5%, while the health trade posted the smallest decline at 0.8%.
Unlicensed craft revenue drops 0.8% despite gains in commercial-need segment
Germany's unlicensed craft trades, which do not require formal qualification such as a master craftsman certificate, generated 0.8% less real revenue in the second quarter of 2026 than a year earlier. Commercial-need trades within this segment gained 0.6%, while private-need trades fell 2.6%. The food trade and main construction trades recorded the steepest declines at 4.5% and 4.1%, respectively.
Destatis noted that revenue figures have been price-adjusted since the first quarter of 2026 to reflect inflation-corrected economic activity, with the statistical base year updated to 2025. Employment data are now recorded under a new job-based concept following the reclassification of economic sectors from WZ 2008 to WZ 2025.