ifo Institute: Number of Short-Time Workers Falls to 3.7 Million
The number of short-time workers in Germany fell to 3.7 million in September, down from 4.7 million in August (August figure revised), according to exclusive calculations and estimates by the ifo Institute based on the ifo Business Survey. Short-time workers now account for just 11 percent of employees subject to social insurance contributions, compared to 14 percent in August. “Short-time work is steadily declining. However, the proportion of employees in industry on short-time work remains particularly high,” says ifo labor market expert Sebastian Link.
In manufacturing, an estimated 1.47 million employees were still on short-time work in September, representing 21 percent of the workforce. Among service providers, the figure was 1.23 million or 12 percent, and in trade it was 406,000 people or 9 percent. In construction, short-time work affected only 5,000 people or 1 percent. In the other sectors, the ifo Institute estimates the number of short-time workers at 622,000 or 5 percent of the workforce.
