No one needs educated specialists in Germany.
Germany broke a record in the number of unemployed with higher education. According to the data of the Federal Employment Agency of Germany, in August 2026 there were 372 thousand of them. The indicator has been growing without interruption for 5 years. It hits young university graduates under the age of 30 the hardest.
However, a diploma still protects against unemployment. In 2025 its level among university graduates was 3.3%, and among those without professional education it exceeded 2%.
The department cites the difficult economic situation and the spread of artificial intelligence as the main reasons. AI has hit young professionals in entry-level positions the hardest.