As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the basis of first calculations for March 2008, the number of persons in employment whose place of residence was in Germanyamounted to 39.93 million. That was an increase by 687,000 persons (+1.8%) on March last year. Compared with February 2008, the number of persons in employment rose by 143,000 (+0.4%) in March 2008.

The winter of 2007/2008 was mild and, consequently, the job cuts typical in winter were moderate. Due to long-term experience, only a small labour market upturn in spring is expected after such a winter. Nevertheless there was a marked upturn on the labour market in March. That upward trend was based on the favourable short-term development of the overall economy. Another factor contributing to the positive trend was probably an increased utilisation of seasonal short-time working allowance.
 
In March 2008, the number of persons in employment in Germany amounted to 40.23 million after seasonal adjustment, i.e. after elimination of the typical seasonal variations. That was a seasonally adjusted increase by 65,000 (+0.2%) on February 2008.
 
In addition to the first calculation of the number of persons in employment for reference month March 2008, the monthly and quarterly employment results published so far were revised back to July 2007 as part of the regular revision of national accounts. For that purpose employment-statistical sources now available were evaluated. Among other things, the latest data of the Federal Employment Agency on jobs subject to social insurance contributions and on marginal part-time work as a first employment were included. Altogether, the recalculation resulted in an employment figure revision of a maximum of 0.4% compared with the previously published data.
 
Based on the labour force survey, Destatis determined a seasonally adjusted 3.15 million unemployed for March 2008. That figure, which is a provisional estimate, was calculated according to the concept of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Compared with the same month a year earlier (March 2007), the number of unemployed was down by 540,000 persons or 14.6%. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate – which is harmonised across the EU and measured as the share of unemployed in the total labour force – amounted to 7.3% in Germany and was thus considerably below the level of the corresponding month of the previous year (8.6%).
 
More results, including among others the original unemployment data which have not been seasonally adjusted, can be accessed on the internet. Here, you will also find more detailed methodological notes on the ILO labour market statistics, the labour force survey and the microcensus.


For further information please contact: 
For „employment“:
Michael Braig,
tel: (+49-611) 75-2932,
For „unemployment“:
Dr. Martina Rengers,
tel: (+49-611) 75-4271,
E-mail: arbeitsmarkt@destatis.de