A study by Ernst & Young (EY), based on Federal Statistical Office data, revealed that Germany’s industrial sector lost about 124,000 jobs in 2025, a 2.3% decline, leaving around 5.38 million employees.
The automotive industry was hardest hit, cutting 50,000 jobs, while the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors lost about 2,000. Since 2019, the industrial sector has shed around 266,000 jobs (5% of its workforce), including 111,000 in the automotive sector alone (down 13%).
Industrial income has shrunk by 5% since 2023, prompting warnings that the sector faces a deep crisis and requires strong recovery to halt further job losses.
Sources – Agencies
