Press release -

Short-Time Work in Germany Somewhat Lower

The number of short-time workers in Germany declined somewhat in March. A total of 620,000 people, or 1.8 percent of the workforce, were on short-time work, down from 685,000* (2.0 percent*) in February. These figures are ifo Institute estimates based on its surveys as well as on data from the German Federal Employment Agency. “Developments were not the same everywhere,” says ifo expert Stefan Sauer. “In manufacturing, the numbers went up; in retail and hospitality, they went down.”

In hospitality, the number of short-time workers shrank from 215,000* to 170,000, or from 20.2* percent to 16.0 percent of the workforce. In retail, the figure decreased noticeably from 96,000* to 56,000, or from 3.9* percent to 2.3 percent. In manufacturing, by contrast, the figure climbed from 122,000* to 140,000 (2.0 percent); this includes the automotive industry, where it rose from 36,000* to 43,000 (4.5 percent).

Before the pandemic, the number of short-time workers was 134,000 in February 2020; it then jumped to 2.6 million in March and reached a record 6 million in April 2020. The previous peak during the global financial and economic crisis was 1.5 million short-time workers in spring 2009.

*) Revised figure

Contact

Stefan Sauer

Scientific Manager
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+49(0)89/9224-1302
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+49(0)89/9224-1463
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Harald Schultz

Harald Schultz

Press Officer
Tel
+49(0)89/9224-1218
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+49(0)89/907795-1218
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