Long-term unemployment: 1.4 million jobless people have been receiving citizen's allowance for at least five years
Figures from the Federal Employment Agency illustrate who among the "able-bodied" people has been relying on assistance for many years. What could help is partially controversial.
Around 1.4 million people in Germany have been receiving basic income support for at least five years, accounting for about two-fifths of those receiving state support. Berlin and Bremen have the highest proportion of long-term recipients, with 45% and 43% respectively, according to data from the Federal Employment Agency. The number of long-term unemployed in Germany had fallen to 700,000 by 2019 but rose to over 1 million in 2025.
The government has introduced stricter rules for basic income support, including cuts for those who do not cooperate.
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.
