C2 Background
German industry with fewer employees for the first time since 2010
That was 2.2 percent fewer than in 2019, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The last time there was a decline was in 2010 as a result of the financial market and economic crisis, which led to a minus of 2.4 percent.
Fewer hours worked
The number of hours worked also decreased last year, by 6.9 percent to just under 7.9bn. Remuneration fell by 5.1 percent to €288bn. The export-dependent industry – which suffered from the Corona recession at home and with important trading partners such as the USA, France and Great Britain – can hope for better times this year. With the expected recovery of the global economy, demand for goods "Made in Germany" should also rise.