Job market: Number of employees in the German automotive industry falls to the lowest level since 2005
German car manufacturers and suppliers are massively cutting jobs. This is also reflected in the official statistics. However, the industry remains an important employer.
Germany's manufacturing sector lost 144,100 jobs in the first half of 2026, a 2.7% decline from the previous year, with 5.29 million employees as of June. The automotive industry was particularly affected, with 42,300 fewer employees, a 5.8% drop, and a total of 691,500 employees, the lowest number since 2005. Other industries, including metal producers, chemical industry, and manufacturers of electrical equipment, also experienced job losses.
Germany's export-dependent industry is under pressure due to US import tariffs and China's increased domestic production. The country's exports to China and the US declined by 12% and 6%, respectively, in the first six months of 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
