Unemployment in Thuringia climbed in January. The Federal Employment Agency reported that 74,146 people were registered as unemployed in the Free State-4,802 more than in December and 1,657 more than in January of the previous year. The unemployment rate now stands at 6.7 percent.
Markus Behrens, chairman of the management board of the Saxony‑Anhalt‑Thuringia regional directorate, said the increase is largely seasonal. He cited the expiration of fixed‑term contracts, the end of seasonal jobs after the holiday market, and weather‑related winter pauses in construction. He also noted that economic weakness is gradually becoming more evident.
Despite the uptick in unemployment, demand for workers remains steady. In January, employment agencies and job centres recorded 14,885 open vacancies. Employers reported 2,847 new positions-an increase of 13.5 percent compared with the same month last year. In contrast, underemployment, which includes people in programmes or with special status, fell slightly to 88,313 individuals.