Germany’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rose by 12,000 to 3.012 million in September 2026, exceeding the 1,000 increase expected by analysts polled by Reuters. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 6.4%, in line with expectations and its highest level since 2020. The number of unemployed was the highest since March 2011. On an unadjusted basis, unemployment fell slightly below 3 million after exceeding that threshold for the previous two months. Andrea Nahles, head of Germany’s labor office, said the usual autumn improvement had started sluggishly and that the recent economic recovery had yet to translate into stronger employment.