started · updated
Germany labor market faces automotive job losses and declining working hours
Germany is experiencing significant shifts in its labor market. The automotive industry has reached its lowest employment level since 2005, with 691,500 workers remaining after a 5.8 percent annual decline. This contraction is particularly sharp among parts and accessories suppliers, who saw a 7.6 percent drop in jobs.
Broader economic trends show a decline in average working hours per capita, which corresponds to a loss of approximately 460,000 full-time positions. This reduction is most notable among men and those in the 25-to-54 age bracket, while working hours for women have remained relatively stable at around 24 hours per week. Additionally, the proportion of workers on fixed-term contracts has decreased to 6 percent, down from 7 percent in 2015.
In eastern Germany, demographic shifts are creating labor gaps, as the number of German nationals in the workforce has decreased while foreign workers have increased. Meanwhile, the insolvency rate in Germany showed a slight monthly decrease in May 2026, though overall business failures for the first five months of the year remain higher than the previous year.
Entities
Automotive industry · Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung · Federal Institute for Population Research · Federal Statistical Office · Germany · Harun Sulak · Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft · Sebastian Klüsener · Statistisches Bundesamt
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The reduction in working hours was most pronounced among men and the 25-to-54 age group. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.cash.ch · fenix-magazin.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Working hours for women remained relatively stable at approximately 24 hours per week. www.cash.ch · fenix-magazin.de
- [● 4 SOURCES] The average weekly working hours for people aged 20 to 64 in Germany fell in 2025. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.cash.ch · fenix-magazin.de
- [● 2 SOURCES] The decline in working hours was strongest among individuals with low educational attainment. www.cash.ch
- [● 2 SOURCES] Working hours per capita increased among individuals over the age of 60. www.cash.ch
- [● 4 SOURCES] The decline is attributed to the current economic situation. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.cash.ch · fenix-magazin.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The decline in working hours per capita corresponds to approximately 460,000 full-time positions. www.nachrichten-heute.net · www.cash.ch