Labor market under pressure: Rising unemployment in East Hesse!

Labor market under pressure: Rising unemployment in East Hesse!

What is currently affecting the job market in Cologne and the surrounding area? Not only local companies, but also numerous employees and unemployed people are concerned about the current developments. Unemployment in eastern and Waldhessen, as well as in the Bad Hersfeld-Fulda district, has currently increased slightly in August 2025. A total of 8,046 people are now unemployed there, an increase of 43 compared to the previous month. Accordingly, the unemployment rate remains at 4.1 percent, only slightly above the previous year's level of 4.0 percent, reported East Hesse News.

The trend in the region's job centers is predominantly negative. The Fulda and Hersfeld-Rotenburg job centers recorded a decrease of 190 unemployed people. There is also the need to find qualified personnel: with 2,306 vacancies in the agency district, the need for skilled workers is enormous. Two thirds of unemployed people do not have completed vocational training, which increases the challenge for employers. Matthias Dengler, chairman of the Bad Hersfeld-Fulda employment agency, describes the weaker labor market situation as worrying.

Industries and their challenges

The industrial, trade and service sectors are particularly affected by the tense situation. In Germany, the number of unemployed has exceeded the three million mark for the first time in over a decade The time reported. The industry is suffering from a prolonged recession and has lost more than 114,000 jobs since 2019 - a decline of 4.3 percent. In addition, China is increasingly becoming a serious competitor, especially when it comes to electric cars, which is further depressing export figures.

A different look falls on the construction industry. Despite an increase in orders of 9.4 percent in the first half of 2023, the challenges there are also growing. In particular, the required infrastructure projects and the federal government's planned billions in spending could give the construction industry a boost, although recruitment remains questionable. Retail is also under pressure: With falling consumption and competition from online providers, many stores are having difficulties and have to close.

The search for skilled workers

A striking point is that the majority of unemployed people do not have the required training or qualifications. This is particularly reflected in the 679 younger unemployed people under the age of 25, who rose by 4.5 percent. It is hardly surprising that the employment agency sets up programs for further training and qualifications. The hope is that the situation will improve through better training opportunities, which could also alleviate the shortage of skilled workers.

The Fulda district has unemployment of 5,118 people at a rate of 3.9 percent. Men in particular can triumph here: their unemployment figures have fallen by 0.6 percent, while women's numbers have increased by 53.

It remains to be seen how the situation on the labor market will develop. There is a certain degree of confidence due to the innovative approaches to further training and the need for qualified personnel. In addition, the adapted handling of offers and services is carried out by the Federal Employment Agency promoted, which could open up real opportunities for professional reorientation.

Overall, the job market remains exciting and dynamic - and the need for well-trained specialists remains high. It is time to actively work on your own qualifications in order to survive in this turbulent time in your professional life.