- 2,955,000 people were unemployed in October 2026, 44,000 more than a year earlier.
- 654,000 jobs were registered with the Federal Employment Agency, 31,000 more than a year earlier.
- The usual autumn improvement was weak, and the agency points to a mismatch between jobs and job seekers by occupation and region.
- For you: fewer easy wins, but real demand in specific fields and regions.
The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) published its October figures on 30 October 2026. Here are the numbers that matter, and what I take from them for people looking for work in Germany.
The numbers
| Figure | October 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployed | 2,955,000 | 40,000 fewer than September, 44,000 more than a year earlier |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | Down 0.1 points from September |
| Seasonally adjusted unemployed | 3,016,000 | Up 4,000 from September |
| Registered open jobs | 654,000 | 31,000 more than a year earlier |
Sources: report on the agency figures and Reuters.
What it means
Unemployment usually falls in autumn. This year the drop was small, and on a seasonally adjusted basis it rose slightly. At the same time, the number of registered open jobs was higher than a year ago. The agency describes a mismatch: the jobs and the job seekers often do not fit by occupation and region.
For international applicants, this matches what I see every day. Generic applications for popular roles in Berlin and Munich face very heavy competition. Targeted applications in fields with demand, in cities people overlook, and with direct contact to the hiring team still work.
What to do now
- Widen your city list beyond the three biggest cities.
- Check the official job portal of the Federal Employment Agency, which many mid-sized employers use. See my job portal guide.
- Prepare now. Hiring in Germany usually picks up in the first months of the year, once new budgets are set.
Sources
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.