At the beginning of 2025, the German labor market is showing resilience despite economic challenges, including slowing GDP growth and structural changes in industry. However, problems such as a shortage of skilled workers, demographic changes, and difficulties with integrating migrants remain.
Key indicators at the beginning of 2025
Total employment: According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the number of people in employment in March 2025 was around 45.8 million, 0.1% less than in March 2024.
Unemployment rate: In March 2025, the unemployment rate was 3.7%, up 0.2 percentage points compared to the same month of the previous year.
Average working week: Despite high employment, the average number of hours worked per employee fell to a record low (excluding the pandemic year of 2020), raising concerns about labor productivity.
Professions in demand
In 2025, there will continue to be high demand in Germany for specialists in the following fields:
Medicine: doctors, nurses, pharmacists.
Information technology: software developers, cybersecurity specialists, data analysts.
Construction: engineers, architects, skilled workers.
Education: teachers, especially in primary schools and technical subjects.
Care sector: social workers, caregivers, especially in the context of an aging population.
The shortage of personnel in these sectors is due to both demographic changes and an insufficient influx of qualified specialists.
Migration plays a key role in maintaining Germany’s labor force:
Number of foreign workers: As of 2024, the number of foreign workers in Germany stood at 6.3 million, almost twice as many as ten years ago.
Main migrant groups:
Ukraine: Since the start of the conflict in 2022, Germany has taken in a significant number of Ukrainian refugees, many of whom are integrating into the labor market.
Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan: These migrant groups are actively participating in the economy, especially in sectors with labor shortages.
Integration challenges: Despite integration efforts, migrants face challenges including recognition of qualifications, language barriers, and limited access to educational programs.
Average wage
Average wage: In 2025, the average gross wage in Germany is around €4,200 per month.
Minimum wage: From 2025, the minimum hourly rate has been increased to €12.82.
Sectoral differences:
IT and technology: high wages reflecting a shortage of skilled workers.
Medicine: salaries vary depending on specialization and region.
Construction and care: salaries remain competitive, especially given the shortage of labor.
Forecasts and challenges
Germany faces a number of structural challenges in the labor market:
An aging population: According to forecasts, around 4.8 million baby boomers will retire by 2035, exacerbating the labor shortage.
Reduction in working hours: The average number of hours worked per employee is declining, which could have a negative impact on overall productivity.
Integration of migrants: Additional measures are needed to effectively integrate migrants into the labor market, including recognition of qualifications and language support.
In response to these challenges, the German government is implementing programs to attract skilled workers from abroad, improve working conditions, and promote employment among women and older workers.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/analysis-of-the-german-labor-market-at-the-beginning-of-2025-by-relocation/
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) last week, with almost no currency purchases, increased its sales on the interbank market by $130.95 million, or 21.0%, to $755.10 million, according to statistics on the regulator’s website.
The data published by the regulator during this period indicate a change in the situation on the cash currency market: the balance was negative every day, fluctuating from $2.0 million on Monday to $15.3 million on Tuesday, $9.2 million on Wednesday, and $12.0 million on Thursday.
The official hryvnia exchange rate fluctuated within a narrow range from 41.5470 UAH/$1 at the beginning of the week to 41.4983 UAH/$1 at the end of the week.
On the cash market, the hryvnia exchange rate remained virtually unchanged at the end of the week: the buying rate was around 41.42 UAH/$1 and the selling rate was 41.50 UAH/$1.
As noted by KYT Group experts, the approaching tax payment period, as well as seasonal activity in the energy sector and imports of energy carriers, are adding liquidity to the market, but are unlikely to lead to significant exchange rate fluctuations provided that key current conditions remain unchanged.
In their opinion, technical and psychological support for the market is provided by the growth of international reserves to $46.7 billion (+10% in April), which creates an additional reserve of stability for the “managed flexibility” policy.
In the short term (2-4 weeks), KYT Group expects the exchange rate to remain in the range of 41.20-41.80 UAH/USD with local fluctuations of ±20 kopecks under the influence of situational factors, provided that current circumstances remain unchanged.
According to the company, in the medium term (2-4 months), the exchange rate may remain stable or shift to 41.80-42.50 UAH/USD under the influence of moderate devaluation.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/projects/1071980.html
Lead imports to Ukraine in January-April 2025 increased 6.8 times to $2.77 million. At the same time, exports decreased by 16.3% to $2.96 million. In April, imports amounted to $678,000, while exports amounted to $840,000.
Lead is currently mainly used in the production of lead-acid batteries for the automotive industry. In addition, lead is used in the manufacture of bullets and certain alloys.
Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation for energy management and automation, announces an important step towards sustainability with the launch of its new PanelSeT brand.
Following the recent launch of PanelSeT SFN, the first decarbonized steel* enclosure that reduces CO₂ emissions by 34%, Schneider Electric continues its transition to more environmentally friendly solutions for electrical switchgear. The company has created a single brand for all its universal enclosures, complementing it with new sustainable values and increased flexibility, reliability, and efficiency.
For more than 60 years, Spacial and Thalassa enclosures have protected automation and electrical equipment, ensuring process reliability and personnel safety under all operating conditions.
From June 2024, Spacial steel and stainless steel enclosures and Thalassa insulated enclosures will gradually be given a new identity: PanelSeT.
PanelSeT will become the single brand for all universal floor-standing and wall-mounted enclosures specially designed for harsh industrial environments for both indoor and outdoor use.
PanelSeT products will be fully integrated into the premium SeT Series, Schneider Electric’s flagship portfolio for power distribution and motor control.
The new branding is in line with Schneider Electric’s commitment to:
PanelSeT is designed to simplify and improve customer interaction with a simple and understandable name. This new strategy helps critical infrastructure achieve its sustainability goals and ensure a long-lasting impact.
For more information about PanelSeT, visit se.com/enclosures.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider’s purpose is to make an impact by empowering everyone to make the most of our energy and resources, enabling progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.
Our mission is to be a trusted partner in sustainability and efficiency.
We are a global industry technology leader, bringing global expertise in electrification, automation and digitalization to smart industries, reliable infrastructure, high-performance data centers, intelligent buildings and intuitive homes. Drawing on our deep industry expertise, we provide integrated, end-to-end IoT solutions powered by artificial intelligence with connected products, automation, software, and services, creating digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.
Our company’s main resource is our 150,000 employees and over a million partners working in more than 100 countries around the world to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We support diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/press-release/1073265.html
The administration of US President Donald Trump intends to use US foreign aid accounts to return migrants to countries affected by conflict, including Ukraine, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
“The Trump administration has developed plans to spend up to $250 million in foreign aid to fund the evacuation and return of people from areas of active conflict, including 700,000 Ukrainian and Haitian migrants who fled to the United States amid ongoing extreme violence in their home countries,” the report said.
According to the publication, the proposal, which had not been previously reported, was in the works even before the US Department of Homeland Security announced on May 5 that immigrants who voluntarily “self-deport” to their countries would be eligible for a $1,000 grant from the US government.
While previous administrations have supported the use of taxpayer funds for the voluntary repatriation of migrants, the proposal developed under Trump is unusual in that it includes people who have fled some of the most dangerous parts of the world and appears to be aimed at bypassing the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN-affiliated organization which typically helps return migrants to their homes. It also coincides with the administration’s polarizing attempt to drastically cut foreign aid, in particular by eliminating the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and ending 80% of its programs, including those that worked in Ukraine, Haiti, and other troubled countries.
In addition to Ukrainians and Haitians, the draft documents also mention Afghans, Palestinians, Libyans, Sudanese, Syrians, and Yemenis, stating that they may also be targeted by the voluntary deportation program. The IOM does not support the return of people to any of these countries, according to the draft documents.
In April, Active Group, in collaboration with Experts Club, conducted an online survey of 800 Ukrainians regarding their attitudes toward various countries. The goal was to determine their level of trust and sympathy.
Ukrainians have the most positive views of the United Kingdom (77.2%), Canada (76.3%), and France (74%). Germany has 68.8% support. Attitudes toward the US are divided: 36.1% are positive, 31.2% are neutral, and almost 30% are negative.
Negative attitudes prevail towards Hungary (56%) and Slovakia (34.6%), which is related to their official position on the war. Despite economic ties, China has only 19.6% support, with 42.8% negative.
Japan enjoys high trust (66%), South Korea 49.7%. Turkey receives mixed assessments: 46.4% positive, 12% negative. Brazil and Saudi Arabia are viewed as moderately positive or neutral.
Experts note that Ukrainians value moral support, not just economic ties, and do not recognize “neutrality” without concrete assistance.
“We conduct this important research on an ongoing basis and will continue to do so on a quarterly basis,” commented Oleksandr Pozniy.
” The image of countries in the perception of Ukrainians can be improved through support for projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine, establishing direct dialogue through embassies and public diplomacy projects, explaining their position through historical context, and not avoiding publicity,” added Maxim Urakin, director of development and marketing at Interfax-Ukraine and founder of the Experts Club analytical center.
The presentation of the study in English is available at link.
