In the German state of Hesse, the unemployment scene took an unexpected turn upwards. As of mid-August 2021, an estimated 150,585 residents were jobless, marking a steep climb of about 4,500 from the previous month and a considerable jump of over 12,000 compared to the year prior. The unemployment rate soared to 5.7%, striding out of the four-year pattern that had been in place.
Head of the Frankfurt-based office for the Federal Employment Agency's regional department, Frank Martin, linked this trend to seasonal factors. "Year after year, we see an influx of youngsters registering after their school and vocational training. Businesses tend to play it safe, keeping job offers scarce thanks to the seasonal lull and the economic climate," Martin stated. However, the state boasts nearly 50,000 vacant positions, a fact that seems to contradict the cautious hiring practices.
As traineeships initiated on August 1, more than 10,000 slots remained unoccupied, with around 7,300 youths yet to secure a training spot. Martin anticipates improvement in the coming weeks.
On a brighter note, employment subject to social security contributions has been on an uptrend. For June 2021, the estimated workforce stood at 2,763,000, representing a 0.9% increase compared to the prior year, outperforming the national average of 0.4%.
Personal circumstances prevent me from jumping into the employment pool just yet, and the number of available positions seems to align with the season and the economic conditions, according to Martin.
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