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fromChristoph manus
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The new lockdown has so far hardly had any effect on unemployment figures in Hesse. However, it is becoming increasingly clear how badly the crisis is already affecting South Hesse.
Despite the corona pandemic and the partial lockdown, unemployment in Hesse has continued to fall compared to the previous months. According to figures from the Federal Employment Agency, a good 188,000 people were registered as unemployed in November. The rate fell slightly compared to October to 5.5 percent.
The employment agency has not yet seen any particular effect of the partial lockdown on the labor market in Hesse. “Neither in the hotel and restaurant sector nor in the trade were any noticeable layoffs registered,” said Frank Martin, head of the Hesse regional office, on Tuesday. “Most of the companies are holding on to their employees.” Apparently, the emergency aid from the federal government and the short-time work allowance were effective.
Unemployment is still well above the pre-crisis levels. According to the Employment Agency, the numbers have risen disproportionately since the outbreak of the pandemic in southern Hesse. The crisis hit especially the labor market in Frankfurt, the city and district of Offenbach, the Main-Taunus district and the Hochtaunus district. In Frankfurt, for example, although unemployment has fallen compared to the previous months, at 7.1 percent it is 2.3 percentage points above the previous year’s figure. For Offenbach, the employment agency cites a rate of 10.3 percent – a year ago it was 8.1 percent.
The employment agency explains the significant increases, among other things, with the problems of the transport and logistics sector, which had grown strongly before the crisis. Ultimately, since the outbreak of the crisis, fewer people and fewer goods have been moving than a year ago, said Martin. In view of the great importance of the airport, the travel industry and the transport of goods and consumer goods for the region, this has a strong impact on the job market in southern Hesse.
How much the Corona crisis has slowed down the previously very good economic development for many years is also shown by the sharp drop in demand for workers. Throughout Hesse, the number of vacancies is more than a quarter below the previous year’s figure.
The DGB Hessen-Thüringen warns of an increase in poverty with a view to the labor market figures. He called for a quick increase in the minimum wage to twelve euros per hour. The Association of Hessian Entrepreneurs’ Associations is opposed to rising social spending. For example, she called for the increases in short-time working allowance to be ended immediately from the fourth and seventh months.
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