Employment levels in Germany remained broadly stable in November 2025, with around 46 million people in work, according to provisional figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment was virtually unchanged from October, edging down by just 1,000 people, following a modest increase of 3,000 the previous month.

Without seasonal adjustment, the number of persons in employment rose slightly by 7,000 month- on-month. This increase was weaker than the average rise typically recorded in November between 2022 and 2024, signalling softer labour market momentum towards the end of the year, Destatis said in a press release.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, employment in November 2025 was 51,000 lower than in November 2024, representing a decline of 0.1 per cent. This continued the mild downward trend observed since July, with similar annual declines recorded between August and October.

Germany’s employment held steady at around 46 million people in November 2025, with seasonally adjusted figures virtually unchanged MoM, according to Destatis.
Employment was 0.1 per cent lower year on year, extending a mild downward trend.
Unemployment rose to 1.64 million, up 11.6 per cent from a year earlier, while the adjusted jobless rate remained stable at 3.8 per cent.

Unemployment, however, showed a clearer increase. The labour force survey indicated that 1.64 million people were unemployed in November, up by 171,000, or 11.6 per cent, compared with a year earlier. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7 per cent, up 0.4 percentage points YoY.

After adjusting for seasonal and irregular effects, unemployment stood at 1.67 million, an increase of 7,000 from October. The adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 per cent, suggesting limited short-term movement despite rising annual pressures.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

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Next said Friday that Jane Shields, its group sales, marketing and HR director, is planning to retire from the company in May.

She’ll step down from the board on 21 May with the company saying she retires “after 40 years of outstanding service”. She actually joined as a sales assistant way back in 1985, was promoted to sales director 14 years later, then group sales & marketing director in 2010. She joined the board three years after that.

So who’s taking her role? Matt Barnes will be promoted to the role of group sales and marketing director and “will take on most of Jane’s operational remit”. That means e-commerce, brand marketing, retail stores and online customer services.

Barnes is another company veteran who joined in 1999. He’s currently online customer service director and won’t be joining the board “at this stage”.

Meanwhile the company also announced some non-exec director board changes with Jonathan Bewes, senior independent director and chairman of the Audit Committee, set to retire from the board on 21 May after a nine-year tenure.

Annette Court and digital specialist Jeni Mundy will be appointed as independent non-executive directors with effect from 1 March and 1 April, respectively. Court will be appointed as senior independent director from 21 May. Soumen Das is also being appointed Audit Committee chair at the same time.