German Unemployment Rises to Highest Since February 2021

War in Ukraine, rising inflation, and an energy crisis contribute to the increase.

The number of people out of work in Germany has risen to its highest level since February 2021, official figures show.

The Federal Employment Agency said 2.56 million people were registered as unemployed in October, 104,000 more than in September. The unemployment rate rose to 5.7%, from 5.5%.

The increase is a setback for the German government, which had been hoping to see unemployment fall below 5.5% by the end of the year.

The rise in unemployment is due to a number of factors, including the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, and an energy crisis. The war in Ukraine has led to a sharp rise in the cost of energy, which has in turn pushed up the cost of living. This has made it more difficult for businesses to operate and has led to some companies cutting jobs.

The German government has introduced a number of measures to help businesses and workers cope with the rising cost of living, including a cap on energy prices and a one-off payment to low-income households. However, it is unclear whether these measures will be enough to prevent unemployment from rising further in the coming months.