Unemployment in Western Pomerania-Greifswald: November dip is mild!

Unemployment in Western Pomerania-Greifswald: November dip is mild!

In November 2023, the labor market in Western Pomerania-Greifswald appears surprisingly stable. With an unemployment rate of 8.9 percent and a total of 10,117 unemployed registered, the rate remains below 9 percent. These figures come from the current survey and show that the November dip this year is smaller than is now usual. Loud Northern Courier The number of unemployed people increased by only 29 people compared to the previous month (+0.3 percent), which is a positive signal given the typical seasonal fluctuations.

But where do the seekers' paths lead? At least in recent years, the number of new unemployed people has remained in the range of 200 to 300 people. The situation is also reflected in the branches, where the decline in unemployment in Greifswald and Ueckermünde contributes to the positive overall development. However, there are uncertainties in seasonal industries, especially tourism. Here, several employees, mostly from tourism-related professions, had to register their unemployment at the beginning of November. This has a clear impact on the statistics in the regions concerned, such as Employment agency reported.

Regional differences and challenges

The Wolgast office recorded an increase of 158 to 1,771 unemployed, which corresponds to a rate of 8.0 percent (+0.8 percentage points). In Anklam, the number of unemployed rose by 64 to 1,880, bringing the rate to 10.5 percent (+0.4 percentage points). Klaus-Peter Köpcke, the head of the employment agency in Greifswald, emphasizes that this fluctuation range has been decreasing for over ten years and has now returned to pre-Corona levels. Despite the regional differences, there are almost 2,300 job vacancies reported in the district.

A look at the numbers shows: While the number of unemployed people in the food and hospitality industry increased by 140 compared to October, the employment agency counts 3,266 unemployed people in its care, which means an increase of 152 compared to the previous year. At the same time, the demand for skilled workers is high with 2,295 vacancies. The labor market therefore remains unusually dynamic.

Decrease in communities of need

A notable trend is the decline in communities of need in Greifswald, which has continued for years. Currently there are 9,960 communities of need, fewer than 10,000 for the first time - this has not been the case since 2005. This decline suggests that more people are having their own income, which is a positive step towards greater economic independence. Recent developments also suggest that the labor market as a whole is becoming more resilient.

The employment agency offers targeted assistance for people with disabilities who are looking for support in the labor market. In November, 556 people with severe disabilities were unemployed, two thirds of whom have completed training or an academic degree. It is clear that there is potential for more integration here and that this is increasingly coming into focus.

The coming weeks could still be challenging as seasonal unemployment typically rises towards the end of the year. In this context, seasonal short-time work allowance can be applied for from December to March in order to cushion work losses in certain industries due to weather conditions. The job market in Western Pomerania-Greifswald remains an exciting topic and we have to look forward to what the future holds.

For detailed statistics, please visit the website Employment Agency.