The labour market in August: Unemployment has risen further in the Leipzig Employment Agency’s district

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Unemployment rose in the Leipzig Employment Agency’s district in August 2026, according to figures released by the Leipzig Employment Agency at the end of the month. 33,272 people were registered as unemployed, 683 more (2 per cent) than in July and 2,344 more (8 per cent) than a year ago. The unemployment rate stood at 9.3 per cent, 0.2 percentage points higher than the previous month. A year ago, it stood at 8.8 per cent.

“The labour market remains tight in August. Unemployment has risen both compared with the previous month and compared with the same period last year, whilst employment remains below the previous year’s level,” notes Steffen Leonhardi, Chairman of the Management Board of the Leipzig Employment Agency.

“At the same time, companies are continuing to search intensively for staff, and more vacancies have been reported since the start of the year than in the same period last year. Young people are also still sought after in the apprenticeship market: so anyone who has not yet found an apprenticeship place should get in touch with us now, as it is still possible to start in the 2026 apprenticeship year.”

The Employment Agency also provides specific figures on the apprenticeship market: in the Leipzig Employment Agency’s catchment area, a total of 2,439 people had registered with the careers guidance service as applicants for an apprenticeship or a dual study programme by August, including 707 young people from migrant backgrounds.

Of the 2,439 applicants, 45 people (2 per cent) more were registered than in August 2025. Currently, 664 applicants are actively seeking an apprenticeship or a dual study programme. All other applicants have already accepted an offer or found an alternative.

Regional companies have so far registered 2,594 apprenticeship and dual study places (98 places, or 4 per cent, more than a year ago). In purely mathematical terms, this means there are 95 applicants for every 100 places. There are currently 509 apprenticeship and dual study places available, primarily in the following occupations: retail sales assistant, sales assistant, social insurance clerk – pension insurance, safety and security specialist, and office management assistant.

The careers and study advisory service can be contacted from anywhere by telephone or video call and offers personalised advice: Hotline (0800) 4 5555 00.

Labour market figures for August

Last month, a total of 7,275 people registered as unemployed. Of these, 3,021 came directly from employment. 6,578 people came off the unemployment register, of whom 2,302 took up employment.

Under the SGB III framework (Jobcentre), the number of unemployed stood at 13,578 (375 more than the previous month and 1,224 more than a year ago).

Under the SGB II scheme (Jobcentres), 19,694 people were registered as unemployed (308 more than in the previous month and 1,120 more than a year ago). The basic income support authorities (Jobcentres) provided support to 59 per cent of all unemployed people.

Job vacancies

Leipzig’s companies are, of course, once again offering slightly more vacancies. Companies are continuing to seek staff: 1,067 new vacancies were reported in August (9 more than the previous month and 18 more than a year ago). Most vacancies are currently in the sectors of other business services, professional, scientific and technical services, construction, health and social care, manufacturing, and the trade, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. This means there are currently 5,195 vacancies on the Employment Agency’s books.

However, it is also a fact that, compared with August 2025, the number of employees subject to social insurance contributions in Leipzig has fallen significantly – from 298,716 at that time to 294,541. This means that 4,275 full-time positions have been lost.

And even though the number of vacancies reported has risen slightly again to 5,195, this is still significantly fewer than a year ago, when 459 more vacancies were on offer. And even that was a low figure, as in previous years, at peak times, companies in Leipzig had advertised up to 9,000 or 10,000 vacancies.