German September Unemployment Rises by 12,000 as Jobless Rate Holds at 6.4%

Germany's seasonally adjusted unemployment increased by 12,000 in September 2026, significantly surpassing the consensus forecast of 1,000, according to Federal Employment Agency data. The reading marks an acceleration from a 4,000 increase recorded in the previous month, bringing total unemployed individuals to 3.01 million. Despite the larger-than-expected rise in joblessness, the nationwide unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.4%, matching market expectations. The labour office noted that the traditional autumn revival started slowly, leaving the labor market as a lagging pocket of economic weakness.