The ifo Employment Barometer, which has been tracking employment trends since January 2002, shows data for Germany with the index set at 100 in 2015, seasonally adjusted. Manufacturing hit -13.6 per cent on the barometer in December from -12.4 in November.
In December, Germany’s ifo Employment Barometer rose to 96.5 points from 95.9 in November, indicating a mixed employment outlook.
While overall employment prospects improved slightly, the manufacturing sector saw a decline due to order shortages, leading to cautious hiring.
Trade improved marginally, yet the likelihood of new hires remained low.
Despite a rise in the barometer for trade from -9.4 in November to -7.6 in December, the likelihood of new hires remained low, ifo said in a press release.
“At the moment, service providers in particular are looking for new staff,” said Klaus Wohlrabe, head of surveys at ifo. “In manufacturing, however, a lack of orders is leading companies to be rather cautious.”
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)