Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany
Germany: Unemployment rates by educational attainment level was 3.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3.8%
Change on year
up 8.6%
World rank
38th
of 45 countries
All-time high
11.2%
in 2005
All-time low
3.1%
in 2019
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany stood at 3.8%.
That represents a change of up 8.6% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany peaked at 11.2% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2019.
Germany ranks 38th of 45 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 6.4% | — |
| 1984 | 6.7% | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 6.8% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 6.3% | -7.4% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | -9.5% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | -14.0% |
| 1991 | 5.3% | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 6.3% | +18.9% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +22.2% |
| 1994 | 8.7% | +13.0% |
| 1995 | 8.2% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 8.8% | +7.3% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | +12.5% |
| 1998 | 9.8% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | -9.2% |
| 2000 | 7.9% | -11.2% |
| 2001 | 7.8% | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 9.8% | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 10.7% | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 10.3% | -8.0% |
| 2007 | 8.7% | -15.5% |
| 2008 | 7.5% | -13.8% |
| 2009 | 7.8% | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | -10.3% |
| 2011 | 5.8% | -17.1% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | -6.9% |
| 2013 | 5.2% | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +25.8% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -13.9% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +12.9% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | +8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.5% | 5.7% | 6.9% | 7 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 4.9% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.5% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.7% | 3.1% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 38 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.8% compare
- 38 United Kingdom 3.8% compare
- 41 Bulgaria 3.5% compare
More work & labour data for Germany
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0436 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0549 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0388 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 66,826 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 12,413 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 35,391 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 35,508 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 70,900 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany?
- Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Germany was 3.8% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployment rates by educational attainment level recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2% in 2005.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates by educational attainment level recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2019.
- How does Germany rank for unemployment rates by educational attainment level?
- Germany ranks 38th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates by educational attainment level rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployment rates by educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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