German auto industry employment falls to lowest since 2005
Germany's automotive industry employed 691,500 people at the end of the first half of 2026, down 42,300 jobs or 5.8% year-on-year, Destatis reported. The drop was the largest among German industrial sectors with more than 200,000 employees and marked the lowest automotive employment level since 2005. Employment in motor vehicle and engine manufacturing fell 6.1% to 429,200, and parts and accessories suppliers fell 7.6% to 219,500, while producers of vehicle bodies and trailers rose 10% to 42,800. Manufacturing overall employed 5.29 million, down 2.7% year-on-year, signaling a wider industrial employment contraction.
Automotive employment fell 5.8% to 691,500 in H1 2026
Context
Employment in the car sector and wider manufacturing fell in the first half of 2026. The article reports national job declines and sector breakdowns. The trend could continue or lead firms to restructure further.
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