Number of Short-Time Workers in Germany Fell Sharply in July
In July, the number of short-time workers in Germany declined significantly, from 1.39* to 1.06 million people. This is the lowest level since the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis in February 2020. In July 2021, 3.1 percent of dependent employees were still on short-time work, compared with 4.1* percent in the previous month. This is an ifo Institute estimate based on its Business Survey and on data from the German Federal Employment Agency. “The numbers fell particularly sharply in those industries that have seen an easing of coronavirus restrictions,” says ifo survey expert Stefan Sauer. “In manufacturing, however, we’re seeing the first effects of the supply bottlenecks for intermediate products and raw materials.”
In the automotive industry, the number of short-time workers rose from 14,500 to 32,100, or 3.4 percent of the workforce, up from 1.5 percent. At printing houses, the proportion remains very high at 13.8 percent, after 14.1 percent last month. In other words, 17,300 employees are still affected. In manufacturing overall, the proportion increased from 3.1 to 3.6 percent, or from 214,000 to 249,000 employees.
In the hospitality industry, the number of people on short-time work fell markedly from 295,000* to 183,000. That represents 17.2 percent of the sector’s total workforce, down from 27.8* percent in June. In retail, the number of short-time workers dropped from 92,600* to 41,700, corresponding to 1.7 percent of the workforce.
*) Revised figure.
