Short-Time Work in Germany Slightly Lower
The number of short-time workers in Germany has fallen slightly. In February, there were 877,000 people on short-time work, compared to 920,000* in January. This corresponds to 2.6 percent of the workforce, down from 2.7 percent*. These figures are ifo Institute estimates based on its surveys as well as on data from the German Federal Employment Agency. “There were opposing developments across various industries,” says ifo expert Stefan Sauer. The ifo survey was completed just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In hospitality, the number shrank from 275,000* to 242,000, or from 25.9* percent to 22.8 percent of the workforce. In retail, however, the figure rose noticeably from 129,000* to 209,000, or from 5.2* percent to 8.5 percent. In manufacturing, the figure fell from 199,000* to 170,000 (2.5 percent); this includes the automotive industry, where it fell from 84,000* to 72,000 (7.7 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
