The number of unemployed people in Germany fell by 15,000 in June compared to May to 2.93 million, though the recovery on the German labour market remained weak, the Federal Employment Agency said on Tuesday.
The unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points in the same period to 6.2%, the agency said. Compared to June 2025, the number of unemployed people rose by 22,000.
"There is hardly any change visible on the labour market. Unemployment is falling only slightly and employment subject to social insurance contributions continues its slight downward trend," said Andrea Nahles, chair of the Federal Employment Agency's executive board.
The agency estimates that 1.05 million people received unemployment benefits in June - 90,000 more than a year earlier. The number of people of working age who received Bürgergeld - Germany's basic income support - stood at 3.8 million in June, down 104,000 compared with a year ago.
The basic income support is also paid to low-earners who need additional funds to make ends meet. In total, the employment agency said 7% of people of working age living in Germany were dependent on welfare support.
Demand for workers has continued to stabilize at a low level, according to the agency. In June, 648,000 vacancies were registered with employment agencies, 16,000 more than a year earlier.
Labour market researchers say demographic change is now visible on regional labour markets. Large numbers of employees from the so-called baby boomer generation are retiring, with too few suitable younger workers to replace them.
