Germany’s unemployment rate fell by 0.1% in June 2019 and stood at 4.9% when compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Federal Employment Agency (BA).

When compared to the previous year, 60,000 fewer people were registered as unemployed.

Unemployment fell by 20,000 from May 2019 to June to 2.21 million. Meanwhile, employment was 462,000 higher than in the previous year.

“The weaker economic development leaves a slight mark on the job market. Unemployment fell only slightly in June. The number of registered jobs is at a high level and employment growth is losing momentum, " CEO of the Federal Employment Agency Detlef Scheele, said.

Meanwhile, the BA stated that the demand for new employees is at a high level, but is becoming noticeably weaker. In June, 798,000 jobs were registered with the BA, 8,000 fewer than a year ago.

The BA also published data for the training market. From October 2018 to June 2019, 460,000 jobseekers and job centres registered for one apprenticeship, 18,000 fewer than in the same period last year.

Sebastian Lazay, President of the Federal Employers' Association of Personnel Services (BAP), commented on the labour market, "The latest figures from the Federal Employment Agency show that the economic slowdown is also affecting the German labour market. Like many other sectors, the HR service providers are affected by this development, and as a leading indicator we have seen declining numbers of employees in our industry for a long time.”

Lazay added that temporary employment is a strategically important partner of the labour market and that “it should be recognised by politicians as a strategically important partner of the German labour market.”