In March 2026, Germany’s total number of unemployed people rose by 54 000 compared with the same month a year earlier. Compared with February, the figure fell by 49 000, bringing the total to 3.021 million. The seasonally adjusted figure was unchanged from the previous month. The overall unemployment rate dropped 0.1 percentage point to 6.4 %.
“The spring recovery in the labour market begins in March as it always does – but this year without any notable boost” said Employment Agency chief Andrea Nahles on Wednesday in Nuremberg.
Underemployment, which includes the unemployed, those actively seeking work, and workers temporarily unable to work, provides a more comprehensive view of labour-market slack. The seasonally adjusted underemployment figure remained the same as in February, standing at 3.690 million in March-just 4 000 lower than a year earlier.
The Agency recorded 638,000 job vacancies in March, a drop of 5,000 compared to the previous year. The Employment Agency Vacancy Index (BA‑X), an indicator of staffing demand that incorporates both announced vacancies and recruitment activity, was 103 in March 2026.
An estimated 1.104 million people received unemployment benefits in March 2026, 98 000 more than in the same month a year earlier. The projected number of eligible recipients of basic income (Arbeitsfähige) was 3.820 million, a decline of 147 000 from March 2025. This represents 7.0 % of Germany’s working‑age population, indicating the share of residents in need of assistance.