Germany again records over one million long-term unemployed
Germany again records over one million long-term unemployed
Berlin – The number of long-term unemployed in Germany has once again exceeded the million mark. Current data from the federal government show that as of November 2025, a total of 1,042,517 people have been unemployed for at least one year. What is alarming is that more than half of those affected have been unemployed for more than two years, and almost one in five has been unemployed for more than five years.
The figures are based on a response by the federal government to a parliamentary question. In total, 36.1 percent of all unemployed people in Germany are considered long-term unemployed. The statistics are based on surveys conducted by the Federal Employment Agency.
High proportion without a German passport
The composition of this group is particularly striking. Around a third of the long-term unemployed do not have a German
passport: one in three without a German passport!
passport: one in three without a German passport!
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citizenship. This proportion has risen significantly in recent years. While just under 196,000 foreign long-term unemployed were registered in 2014, their number was recently over 317,000.
The increase was strongest among people from classic asylum countries of origin. Their number rose from around 19,000 to more than 92,000 within a decade. This means that about one in ten long-term unemployed people now comes from a country of refuge. Overall, the proportion of foreigners among the long-term unemployed has almost doubled since 2014.
Billions in costs for the state
The financial consequences are considerable. In 2024 alone, 3.26 billion euros in citizen's income went to foreign long-term unemployed. In total, state benefits for this group amounted to 9.9 billion euros.
A note from the Federal Government itself is explosive: the actual total costs of long-term unemployment are not fully recorded. Expenses for housing, medical care or long-term effects on the pension system are not included in these totals.
Children particularly affected
In addition to the fiscal burdens, there are serious social consequences. Currently, 491,369 children live in households in which at least one parent is long-term unemployed. Among young people between the ages of 15 and 18, this even affects almost one in three children.
At the same time, a structural problem on the labour market is revealed: despite a nationwide shortage of skilled workers, only 5.7 per cent of the long-term unemployed have training in so-called bottleneck occupations. In contrast, more than 60 percent do not have a
vocational qualification, and more than 23 percent do not even have a lower secondary school certificate.
vocational qualification, and more than 23 percent do not even have a lower secondary school certificate.
Accordingly, placement in regular employment remains low. In 2024, only around 155,000 long-term unemployed people managed to re-enter work, 115,000 of them without state support.
Sharp criticism from the opposition
AfD member of parliament Jan Feser described the current figures as an "oath of revelation". He sees this as evidence of a labour market policy that has been misguided for years and criticises in particular the effects of migration and citizen's income. In his opinion, the citizen's allowance has not solved the problems, but rather solidified them.
In view of these figures, the debate about causes, costs and possible reforms of labour market policy is likely to become even more acute.
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Author: MF-Redaktion
Source: Bild / Reuters
