Unemployment dips in three eastern German states, but Saxony hits a 10-year October high

Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia post small declines

The Regional Directorate Saxony-Anhalt-Thuringia, based in Halle (Saale), reported 86,935 registered jobless in Saxony-Anhalt for October, roughly 1,050 fewer than in September. The rate there slipped 0.1 percentage points to 7.9%, still above the 7.7% recorded in October 2025. Nationally the rate fell by the same margin to 6.3%, while jobless totals in both Saxony-Anhalt and Germany remained above their year-earlier levels. In Thuringia, 68,681 people were out of work, 371 fewer than in September but 10 more than in October 2025. The rate there held at 6.3%, against 6.2% a year earlier. Both counts use 13 October as the reference date.

Markus Behrens put the outlook plainly.

“Because an economic turnaround is still not coming this autumn due to persistent economic weakness, demand for labour remains subdued.”

Saxony-Anhalt7.9%

Saxony7.1%

Thuringia6.3%

Germany6.3%

Saxony-Anhalt

7.9 %

Saxony

7.1 %

Thuringia

6.3 %

Germany

6.3 %

Data from the article text

Saxony posts a ten-year October high

Saxony recorded about 152,400 unemployed people in October, the highest count for that month in ten years and roughly 4,800 above the same month of 2025. Compared with September the number fell by about 1,140, and the rate stayed at 7.1%. The Chemnitz directorate linked the drop to people leaving the register for jobs or entering a funded measure. Regional rates ranged from 5.3% in Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge to 10.0% in the city of Chemnitz. Twelve of the thirteen districts and urban districts recorded falls, with Görlitz the only one to see a rise. Klaus-Peter Hansen, head of the Saxony directorate, singled out the placement figures as the encouraging part of the report.

“Given the difficult economic situation, it is encouraging that over 8,500 people have found new work. That is the highest October figure in five years.”

Hiring demand and vacancies

Employers in Saxony notified 6,513 new vacancies in October, 460 fewer than in September (down 6.5%) but about 260 more than a year earlier (up 4.2%). Agencies and jobcentres held 31,863 open positions in total. Most of these posts are permanent (93%) and full-time (87%), and 85% are aimed at skilled workers, against 15% for helper-level roles. In Thuringia, employers reported 3,119 new vacancies in October, 1,143 fewer than in September (down 26.8%) and 36 more than a year earlier (up 1.2%). Since the start of the year, Thuringian agencies and jobcentres have received 34,587 new vacancies, 11.9% more than in the previous year.

Saxony6,513

Thuringia3,119

Saxony

6513

Thuringia

3119

Data from the article text

Structural gaps and the outlook

The directorate also pointed to a persistent mismatch between the requirements employers set for open posts and the profiles of applicants. Markus Behrens listed the drivers of weak demand.

“The main causes are the persistently high uncertainty caused by geopolitical conflicts, as well as higher energy and production costs that weigh on many companies.”

In Thuringia, the long-term unemployed made up 36.3% of jobless people, and those aged 50 and over accounted for 36.1%. Long-term joblessness fell by 1.1% from the previous month. The directorate said youth unemployment dropped seasonally, because many young people had started vocational training or university courses. For now, the directorate sees no economic turnaround on the labour market.