Arbeit: Arbeitslosigkeit bei Schwerbehinderten deutlich gestiegen

The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) reports that unemployment among severely disabled individuals has risen significantly during the economic crisis, surpassing the joblessness rate of other groups. According to a DGB analysis, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities reached twelve percent in 2025, nearly double the overall rate for all civilian workers.

As of July 2026, 192,000 severely disabled individuals were reported as unemployed, marking a 3.4 percent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, overall unemployment also climbed by 0.9 percent. Anja Piel, a DGB board member, noted that the loss of a job affects severely disabled people more severely, as re-employment becomes significantly harder for them, despite their often substantial qualifications.

Data from the Federal Agency for Labor shows that the unemployment rate for severely disabled jobless individuals with no training is lower at 48 percent compared to other unemployed (55 percent). Reasons for employment barriers, as per DGB, include all-day barriers like those faced by wheelchair users, complicated procedures for receiving support benefits, and employer prejudices.

Germany's law obliges businesses with 20 or more employees to hire severely disabled workers, while those with 60 or more are required to maintain a five percent employment rate. In 2024, DGB reported 1.4 million people working in such companies, though achieving the five percent rate remains uncommon. Private employers' rate was 4.2 percent, while public service employers reached 6.1 percent, averaging out to 4.7 percent.

If employers fail to meet their quotas, they incur a compensation levy. For 2024, the DGB raised this levy from 320 to 815 euros per month for businesses with no severely disabled employees despite the legal requirement. "Clear statutory provisions can make a difference," said DGB board member Anja Piel. "Where employers are held to greater responsibility, more severely disabled people are employed."