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Labour · Europe & Central Asia · High income

Germany: the labour market

Labour force is 43.5m (2025), 15th of 187 in the world and 2nd of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Participation rate is 60.6% (2025), 99th of 187 in the world and 21st of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Women's participation is 55.3% (2025), 78th of 187 in the world and 20th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.

Labour force43.5m2025 · world 15/187 · region 2/49Participation rate60.6%2025 · world 99/187 · region 21/49Women's participation55.3%2025 · world 78/187 · region 20/49Employment rate58.3%2025 · world 88/187 · region 18/49
Labour force
Germany
38.0m40.0m42.0m44.0m1995200020052010201520202025Germany43.5m
Participation rate
GermanyEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
56%58%60%62%64%66%1995200020052010201520202025Germany60.6%Europe & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
13 indicators

Labour: Germany in detail

Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.

IndicatorLatestWorld rankIn region~2000~2010~202010-year changeRegionIncome groupWorldSince 2000
Labour forceLabour force, total43.5m202515/1872/4940.2m41.9m43.4m+2.0%since 2015429m734m3.7bn
Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+60.6%202599/18721/4958.0%59.3%60.5%+0.4 ppsince 201558.2%61.0%61.0%
Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+55.3%202578/18720/4949.0%52.5%55.1%+0.8 ppsince 201551.1%54.3%48.9%
Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO)58.3%202588/18718/4953.4%55.1%58.1%+0.9 ppsince 201555.1%58.3%58.1%
UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO)3.7%2025125/18740/497.9%7.0%3.9%−0.9 ppsince 20155.4%4.4%4.8%
Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO)3.4%2025141/18740/498.3%6.6%3.5%−0.8 ppsince 20155.7%4.6%4.9%
Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO)6.9%2025146/18747/498.5%10.4%7.9%−0.5 ppsince 201514.0%11.5%13.4%
Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, %8.2%2025150/17032/468.1%8.5%7.3%+2.0 ppsince 201511.4%10.6%—
Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment91.9%202515/1875/4989.1%88.8%91.1%+2.6 ppsince 201583.3%88.9%53.6%
Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO)4.3%2025177/18747/497.1%6.8%5.0%−1.8 ppsince 201512.9%8.0%42.4%
Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment1.1%2025177/18746/492.6%1.6%1.1%−0.3 ppsince 20156.7%2.9%25.8%
Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment26.0%202537/18718/4933.5%28.8%27.2%−1.7 ppsince 201523.7%22.2%23.7%
Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment73.0%202547/18718/4963.8%69.6%71.7%+2.0 ppsince 201569.7%74.9%50.6%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.

Better than ten years ago

Worse than ten years ago

Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).

neighbours

Germany and its neighbours

Countries sharing a land border with Germany. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.

IndicatorGermanyFrancePolandBelgiumCzechiaAustria
Labour force43.5m202531.9m202518.2m20255.5m20255.6m20254.8m2025
Participation rate60.6%202555.3%202558.3%202554.3%202560.3%202560.1%2025
Women's participation55.3%202551.5%202551.6%202549.8%202553.5%202555.1%2025
Employment rate58.3%202551.2%202556.6%202551.1%202558.6%202556.8%2025
Unemployment3.7%20257.5%20253.0%20255.9%20252.8%20255.6%2025
Female unemployment3.4%20257.5%20253.1%20255.6%20253.3%20255.2%2025
Youth unemployment6.9%202518.9%202510.7%202517.8%20259.2%202511.0%2025
Youth NEET rate8.2%202511.0%202510.1%20257.4%20254.9%202513.4%2025
Wage workers91.9%202586.7%202581.1%202585.4%202584.3%202587.8%2025
France: labourPoland: labourBelgium: labourCzechia: labourAustria: labour
Labour in Europe & Central Asiaall 58 economies rankedLabour: high-income countries86 economies rankedLabour: world leaderboardstop and bottom countriesGermany: all key statisticscountry profile