For January (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.2%, pr. 8.1% (Dec), 8.1% (Nov),
8.2% (Oct), 8.2% (Sep), 8.3% (Aug), 8.3% (July), 8.3% (Jun),
8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr), 8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan),
7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov), 7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug)

For the first time in seven months, the German economy shed jobs in January. The number of people out of work rose by 6K to 3.43 million and the unemployment rate rose to 8.2%. While exports remain strong and have been improving, confidence among consumers and businesses has declined recently. Extremely cold weather during the month was a factor in the jobs data, though expectations had the number of unemployed rising even more. 

For December (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.1%, pr. 8.1% (Nov), 8.2% (Oct), 8.2% (Sep),
8.3% (Aug), 8.3% (July), 8.3% (Jun), 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr),
8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov),
7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)

Exports improved, helping reduce unemployment in Germany for the December period. Increase in Manufacturing orders and help from government stimulus have helped the economy recover to a 0.7% growth in the 3rd Quarter of 2009. 

For November (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.1%, pr. 8.2% R- (Oct), 8.2% (Sep),
8.3% (Aug), 8.3% (July), 8.3% (Jun), 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr),
8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov),
7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)

Germany’s unemployment unexpectedly fell a seasonally adjusted 7,000 to 3.42 million November, according to figures from the Federal Labor Agency. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.1%, as forecast, from October’s upwardly revised 8.2%.

For October (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.1%, forecast 8.3%, pr. 8.2% (Sep),
8.3% (Aug), 8.3% (July), 8.3% (Jun), 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr)
8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov),
7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)
ILO Unempl. Rate: pr. 7.7% (Sep), 7.7% (Aug), 7.7% (July),
7.7% (Jun), 7.5 (May), 7.4% (Apr), 7.6% (Mar), 7.4% (Feb),
7.3% (Jan), 7.2% (Dec), 7.1% (Nov), 7.1% (Oct),

The German unemployment rate fell in October to 8.1%, in seasonally adjusted terms. The number of people out of work declined 26K, a figure that surprised forecasts. The government has been taking steps to keep companies from firing their workers, by giving incentives to firms cut work hours, rather than laying off workers. That has helped to keep the unemployment rate from rising dramatically . The unemployment rate one year ago was around 7.5%. The data is a positive sign for the German economy and hopefully translates to higher consumer spending as the economy recovers from its recession. What happens when the short-term work subsidies run out will be revealed in the coming months. 

For September (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.2%, forecast 8.4%, pr. 8.3% (Aug),
8.3% (July), 8.3% (Jun), 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr) 8.1% (Mar),
8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov), 7.5% (Oct),
7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)
ILO Unempl. Rate: 7.7%, pr. 7.7% (Aug), 7.7% (July), 7.7% (Jun),
7.5 (May), 7.4% (Apr), 7.6% (Mar), 7.4% (Feb), 7.3% (Jan),
7.2% (Dec), 7.1% (Nov), 7.1% (Oct),

The German economy saw unemployment decline by a seasonally adjusted 12K in September. That helped the unemployment rate decline to 8.2%. However, the data does not represent a turnaround in the labor market according to the Federal Labor Agency. The economic crisis will continue to pressure jobs especially as stimulus measures wane. The Germany economy is showing some encouraging signs as it posted positive growth in the 2nd quarter and the IFO business confidence index climbed to a 12-month high in August. Still, companies may not be done shedding payrolls especially as efforts by the government to prop up employment such as subsidies to keep workers on the job run their course. The strength of the global recovery will be a key to Germany as teh countrys manufacutring sector depends on exports which in August were down 41% compared to a year ago.

For August (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.3%, forecast 8.4%, pr. 8.3% (July),
8.3% (Jun), 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr) 8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb),
7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov), 7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep),
7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)
ILO Unempl. Rate: 7.7%, pr. 7.7% (July), 7.7% (Jun), 7.5 (May),
7.4% (Apr), 7.6% (Mar), 7.4% (Feb), 7.3% (Jan), 7.2% (Dec),
7.1% (Nov), 7.1% (Oct),

The number of people out of work in Germany fell unexpectedly by a seasonally adjusted 1,000 in August, which left the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 8.3%. The figures beat forecasts, but with about 1.4 million people already working shortened hours and thousands more kept off the jobless rolls by subscribing to new government retraining programs, the figures may be slightly better than the conditions on the ground. 

For July (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency
Official Release: HTML

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.3%, pr. 8.3% (Jun), 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr)
8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov),
7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)

ILO Unempl. Rate: 7.7%, pr. 7.7% (Jun), 7.57.4% (Apr), 7.6% (Mar),
7.4% (Feb), 7.3% (Jan), 7.2% (Dec), 7.1% (Nov), 7.1% (Oct),

The German economy added 6K jobs in July, when adjusted for seasonally variations. On an unadjusted basis, the number of people out of work increased 52,000 to 3.46 million. The disparity between the two measures makes today's data a mixed bag. The unemployment rate has climbed to 8.3% this year, as firms have slashed payrolls to deal with the drop in economic activity. A government stimulus plan is attempting to stem the worst of the recession, with provisions to try and help companies keep workers by subsidizing social insurance payments, so that companies can keep workers on shortened shifts instead of firing them. 

For June (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency
Previous Release: HTML

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.3%, pr. 8.2% (May), 8.3% (Apr) 8.1% (Mar),
8.0% (Feb), 7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov), 7.5% (Oct),
7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug), 7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)

ILO Unempl. Rate:  pr. 7.4% (Apr), 7.6% (Mar), 7.4% (Feb), 7.3% (Jan),
7.2% (Dec), 7.1% (Nov), 7.1% (Oct), 7.1% (Sep), 7.2% (Aug)

The German labor market continued to deteriorate in June, with 31K new jobless reported during the month. That put the number of total jobless at 3.41M. That follows an increase of 7K new unemployed in May. Expectations had been for a bigger increase, so the data surprised forecasts on the upside, though 19K was slashed of the figure as the labor office surprised observers with a new definition of job seekers, excluding those who don't have a job but are taking part in newly introduced training measures. It still shows that the labor market continues to loosen as the economy suffers through recession. The unemployment rate rose to 8.3%

For May (s.a.)
Provided by: Federal Labor Agency
Official Release: HTML

Unempl. Rate (s.a.): 8.2%, pr. 8.3% (Apr) 8.1% (Mar), 8.0% (Feb),
7.8% (Jan), 7.7% (Dec), 7.6% (Nov), 7.5% (Oct), 7.6% (Sep), 7.6% (Aug),
7.8% (Jul), 7.8% (Jun)

ILO Unempl. Rate: 7.4%, pr. 7.6% (Mar), 7.4% (Feb), 7.3% (Jan),
7.2% (Dec), 7.1% (Nov), 7.1% (Oct), 7.1% (Sep), 7.2% (Aug)

The number of new unemployed persons in Germany rose by only 1K in May, a big surprise to forecasts that had called for an increase of around 66K. However, the numbers seemed to be skewed by government labor-market policies that lowered the figure by 15K-20K. The unemployment rate declined to 8.2%. Though the headline figures seem very positive, the head of the labor office said that the data "is not a change in the downward trend." The Euro-zone recession will continue to add to job losses, pressuring economic activity.