The unemployment rate for 2017 stood at 5.7% for the year 2017, down 0.4% from last year and the lowest rate since German reunification in 1990, according to figures from the Federal Employment Agency.

Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted figures for December recorded a 5.5% unemployment rate, steady from November and also an all-time low since reunification in 1990.

Further figures for full year 2017 showed that 2.53 million people were registered as unemployed in Germany, a decrease of 158,000 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of employed in 2017 stood at 638,000, 1.5% higher than in the previous year as well as the highest increase since 2007.

The agency added that increased labor force participation of the domestic population and immigration of foreign workers offset negative demographic effects.

"The labour market developed very well in 2017: the number of unemployed people fell for the fourth year in a row on average for the year, employment subject to social security contributions rose sharply, and companies' demand for new employees increased again year-on-year. Not least, the labour market benefited from a broad economic upturn,” CEO of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) Detlef Scheele, said.