German industry employee numbers rise for first time in 2020

German industry is creating jobs once again in a sign that it is beginning to reemerge from the damage done by the coronavirus pandemic.

The overall number of employees rose by 13,000 - or 0.2% - from August to September, according to statistics released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. 

In comparison with 2019 however, German industry is still some way from catching up to where it was before the outbreak of Covid-19. At the end of September 2020, figures showed a year-on-year decline of 172,000 - or 3% - in the overall number of people employed by manufacturing companies with 50 employees or more.

Third-quarter results also showed promise that the German economy had begun to bounce back with a record growth of 8.2%, having weathered an unprecedented collapse of 9.8% in the Spring quarter.  

However, further restrictions put in place at the beginning of this month could slow the economy down again in the final quarter. 

The statistics showed the number of employees in metal production and processing had fallen the most in September, at 5.8% compared with 2019. The figures also showed a drop in rubber and plastic goods manufacturing of 5%, mechanical engineering of 4.5%, electrical goods of 4%, and the automotive sector of 3.6%. 

The chemicals industry was the only sector which showed an increase in employee numbers in September 2020 when compared with the previous year.

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