In November 2008 employment in Germany still grew, but at a significantly smaller rate than in the months before. According to provisional data provided by the Federal Statistical Office there were 40.83 million gainfully employed people in Germany in November 2008 which is an increase by half a million as compared to November 2007 or by 1.2%. In comparison with October 2008 employment remained virtually unchanged in November (+12,000 employees).
After adjustments for season the number of gainfully employed people amounted to 40.41 million in November which was an increase by 19,000 people as compared to October 2008.
In the months of November in the period from 2005 to 2007 employment had on average increased by 53,000 people as compared to the previous month October.
A provisional calculation of the number of unemployed people on the basis of the concept by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) led to a figure of 3.08 million people out of work in Germany in November 2008. In November 2007 there were still 360,000 more unemployed people. The harmonized EU unemployment rate for Germany was 7.1% in November 2008 following 8.0% in November 2007. 