Job market: Number of unemployed graduates reaches peak
However, those who have studied continue to have a comparatively low risk of becoming unemployed. This applies to some fields of study more than others.
The number of unemployed academics in Germany has reached a record high, with 372,000 reported in August 2026, according to the Federal Employment Agency in Nürnberg. The figure has risen steadily over the past five years, with younger graduates under 30 being particularly affected. Despite this, having a degree remains a safeguard against unemployment, with an unemployment rate of 3.3% in 2025, roughly half that of the overall population.
Unemployment rates vary by field of study, with teaching graduates having a low rate of under 2%, while humanities graduates had a rate of 4.6% and engineers 3.8%. The Federal Employment Agency cites the economic situation and increasing use of artificial intelligence as main reasons for the rising unemployment.
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.
