Economic Indicators

WIESBADEN – October 30, 2026 -- The number of employed people living in Germany was unchanged in September 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis, at about 45.60 million, but sat 211,000 (0.5%) below the level of a year earlier, according to preliminary Destatis figures.

The adjusted monthly change was -4,000 people (0.0%). From January to August 2026, employment had fallen by an average of 19,000 people per month, so the September reading marks a pause in that pace of decline.

Unadjusted employment rises 172,000 as autumn recovery begins

Without seasonal adjustment, the employed population grew by 172,000 (+0.4%) from August. That matches the typical seasonal gain: the September average for 2023 to 2025 was +170,000.

Wiesbaden – October 30, 2026 -- Germany's Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) will publish four datasets on Thursday, 5 November 2026, led by September manufacturing orders and turnover, and will follow on Friday, 6 November with the September production index.

Thursday brings manufacturing, services and labour cost data

Release No. 385 covers manufacturing orders and turnover for September 2026. Destatis will also publish services turnover for August 2026 (No. 387) and the labour cost survey for 2024 (No. 388).

Release No. 386 covers the projected development of private households through 2050.

Production index for September follows on Friday

Release No. 389 on 6 November delivers the production index for September 2026.

Wiesbaden – September 16, 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%.