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Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US tariff policy could cost Germany 90,000 jobs within a year, says labour office chief
BERLIN, June 6 (Reuters) - U.S. tariff policy could cost Germany 90,000 jobs within a year, the country's labour office head told Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper in an interview released on Friday. Federal Employment Agency chief Andrea Nahles was citing the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and other institutes, which conducted research on the effect of a 25% tariff rate. "The problem is this lack of predictability, which is doing us massive damage - it prevents companies from investing, hiring and training people," Nahles told the newspaper. "The erratic trade policy of the USA is a burden on the German labour market." Last month, unemployment in Europe's largest economy rose at a faster pace than expected, with the number of people out of work approaching the 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. Economic malaise in Germany has put pressure on the job market even against a backdrop of long-term labour shortages, adding to pressure on conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has vowed to pull the economy out of a two-year decline. U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs could deal a major blow to those efforts - possibly putting the German economy on track for a third straight year of recession for the first time in the country's post-war history.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
US tariff policy could cost Germany 90,000 jobs within a year
[BERLIN] US tariff policy could cost Germany 90,000 jobs within a year, the country's labour office head told Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper in an interview released on Friday (Jun 6). Federal Employment Agency chief Andrea Nahles was citing the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and other institutes, which conducted research on the effect of a 25 per cent tariff rate. 'The problem is this lack of predictability, which is doing us massive damage – it prevents companies from investing, hiring and training people,' Nahles told the newspaper. 'The erratic trade policy of the USA is a burden on the German labour market.' Last month, unemployment in Europe's largest economy rose at a faster pace than expected, with the number of people out of work approaching the 3 million mark for the first time in a decade. Economic malaise in Germany has put pressure on the job market even against a backdrop of long-term labour shortages, adding to pressure on conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has vowed to pull the economy out of a two-year decline. US President Donald Trump's tariffs could deal a major blow to those efforts – possibly putting the German economy on track for a third straight year of recession, for the first time in the country's post-war history. REUTERS
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German unemployment rate dips to 6.1%, but outlook remains gloomy
Unemployment in Germany dipped slightly in May, official figures showed on Tuesday. The unemployment rate dropped by 0.1 percentage point to 6.2%, the Federal Employment Agency said, with the number of jobless people falling by 12,000 to 2.919 million. The figure was 197,000 higher than in May 2024. The Nuremberg-based agency's chairwoman, Andrea Nahles, said the results showed that the usual spring bump in employment has failed to materialize this year, with economists concerned that the country could be facing a third consecutive year of recession. "The labour market is not getting the tailwind it needs for a turnaround. We therefore expect unemployment figures to continue to rise in the summer," said Nahles. Meanwhile, Germany continues to suffer from a major shortage of skilled workers. Around one in eight professions are experiencing employment bottlenecks, the agency said. "The shortage of skilled labour remains a key challenge for Germany as a business location," said Nahles. Nursing and healthcare professions were particularly affected last year, as well as construction and skilled trades. There was also strong demand for lorry drivers and teachers. A total of 634,000 job vacancies were registered with the Federal Employment Agency in May, around 67,000 fewer than a year ago.
Wall Street Journal
28-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Germany's Jobless Numbers Tick Higher
Germany's unemployment numbers rose this month, as major firms intensify plans to rejig their workforces amid an uncertain economic environment. Seasonally adjusted jobless claims climbed by 34,000, accelerating from the 6,000 of April, according to data from Germany's Federal Employment Agency published Wednesday. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expected a smaller increase of 14,000.
Local Germany
21-05-2025
- Health
- Local Germany
Foreign nurses in Germany face language and cultural barriers
Germany's health system relies heavily on foreign nurses – the Federal Employment Agency reported that the proportion of foreign caregivers has risen significantly in the last ten years (up to 16 percent as of 2023, and growing). But foreign nurses and caregivers face challenges at work due to a lack of German-language skills, as well as other systemic issues such as with having their foreign qualifications recognised. In some cases, foreign nurses begin work while still learning German, the German Nursing Council (DBfK) told Deutschlandfunk radio. That is causing issues for both the nurses themselves and their German colleagues, who find themselves needing to train their colleagues in technical language on top of their usual duties. DBfK President Christine Vogler called for binding language standards for nurses. At present, German-language standards for nurses vary significantly by state. Language skills are not just about sharing information but about forming relationships at work, DBfK spokesperson Anja Hild told Deutschlandfunk . READ ALSO: Can doctors in Germany refuse to treat patients who don't speak German Language barriers and cultural barriers Hild added that what is really a cultural gap regarding expectations around the role of nurses was sometimes dismissed as a language issue. Many international nurses have formal medical training in their home countries and are surprised to find that in Germany, nurses are expected to help patients with basic care activities, such as helping them wash, eat, and get out of bed. 'If you don't know that personal hygiene is considered part of nursing care here, even perfect German won't help you,' said Koudjo Johnson, Integration Manager at the Ernst-von-Bergmann Clinic in Potsdam. He added that both language and cultural barriers can be made worse when foreign colleagues are not placed in roles that suit their skills and training. He cited an example of one nurse with trauma surgery experience who was instead assigned to work in an eye clinic – a mismatch that left her feeling undervalued and demoralised. Advertisement Johnson suggested that recruitment should be done on the basis of experience, not only need – which would allow workers to feel better valued in their role. According to a DBfK study, nearly 80% of nurses agree that foreign workers are needed in Germany's healthcare system. READ ALSO: Why a Darmstadt hospital is showing what Germany would look like without immigration
