In January the number of people out of work rose in both Lower Saxony and Bremen compared with the previous month.
In Lower Saxony, 285 394 people were unemployed – an increase of 16 684 from December – and the unemployment rate climbed to 6.3 %.
Bremen’s figure climbed to 43 905, 1 909 more than in December, with a rate of 11.7 %. The agency explained that this pattern is typical for the season, as many temporary contracts expire at the end of the year.
When a year‑over‑year comparison is made, unemployment is also higher in both states. Lower Saxony has 4 767 more people on the job‑seeker register than in the same month last year, while Bremen’s increase is 782. A sharp rise was seen in the number of people receiving unemployment benefits after losing a job – a trend the agency attributes to a broader economic slowdown. Long‑term unemployment has also grown.
Despite the pressure, the labour market remains resilient, says Johannes Pfeiffer, head of the Federal Employment Agency for the region. The level of socially insured employment remains high. To help balance supply and demand, the agency uses “Arbeitsmarktdrehscheiben” – mechanisms that transfer surplus staff from companies with excess capacity to those with hiring needs. There is a positive sign that underemployment has fallen in both states compared to the previous year.