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German unemployment rises less than expected in December, labour office says

By Thomson Reuters Jan 7, 2026 | 2:58 AM

BERLIN, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The number of people out of ‍work in Germany rose in December but less than expected, labour office figures ‌showed on Wednesday, ‌closing a year of sluggish job market recovery in Europe’s largest economy.

The office ​said the number of unemployed ‍grew by ​3,000 in seasonally ​adjusted terms. Analysts ‍polled by Reuters had expected a rise of 5,000.

The seasonally adjusted job rate ‍remained stable at 6.3%.

“The labor market continues to lack ‍economic ‍momentum,” said ​labour office head ​Andrea ⁠Nahles. “The weak trend ‌is therefore continuing at the end of the year.”

(Reporting by Maria Martinez; editing by Matthias ⁠Williams)