Hessian labor market in April: Minimal changes despite spring recovery

Hessian labor market in April: Minimal changes despite spring recovery

The usual spring recovery did not occur in the Hessian labor market in April, with the number of unemployed only falling slightly by 95 people. A total of 193,748 men and women were registered as unemployed, which corresponded to an unchanged unemployment rate of 5.6 percent. Compared to the previous year, the rate increased from 5.2 percent. Chief Executive Frank Martin explained that current economic growth is not enough to reduce unemployment, but no sharp increase is expected.

With regard to foreign unemployment, Martin pointed out that more foreigners were registering as unemployed, partly due to reasons of fleeing or completing language courses. Nevertheless, it is positive to note that additional jobs subject to social security contributions were given to newcomers, which promotes the integration of people with a migrant background into the Hessian labor market.

The Association of Hessian Business Associations (VhU) criticized the holiday mentality and part-time work in Germany. VhU general manager Dirk Pollert emphasized that there is little work being done in Germany compared to other industrialized countries, even though Germany is in record employment. In Pollert's opinion, more work is needed to break the downward spiral of recession, demographic imbalance and rising social security contributions. Comprehensive, high-quality childcare is an indispensable prerequisite for attracting more full-time workers.

On the other hand, employee representatives, represented by the chairman of the DGB Hesse-Thuringia, Michael Rudolph, advocate a redistribution of work. Women in particular wanted relief from unpaid care work so that they could work more. Rudolph called for a redistribution of working time from men to women in order to give men more time for care work and at the same time distribute care work from women to men.