Jena, 30.04.2026. The number of unemployed persons in Jena rose slightly in April 2026. Current figures from the Agentur für Arbeit show a moderate increase, while at the same time there continues to be a high demand for skilled workers in the regional economy.
- Current unemployed: 3,744 persons (+75 compared to the previous month, +309 compared to the previous year)
- Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent (+0.1 percentage points)
- Newly registered: 769 persons (in April)
- Into new employment: 264 persons (in April)
- Job vacancies in Jena: 1,104 (of which 252 were newly reported)
Citizen’s Benefit recipients make up the majority
Of the 3,744 persons currently registered as unemployed in Jena, 1,499 are directly supported by the Agentur für Arbeit. The majority of 2,245 people fall under the jurisdiction of the local Jobcenter. This means that around 60 percent of job seekers in the Saalestadt are in the area of basic security (Bürgergeld).
Movement in the labor market
The labor market in Jena remains dynamic despite the slight increase in the rate. During the month of April, 769 people newly registered as unemployed. In the same period, 701 people were able to end their unemployment. It is encouraging that 264 women and men were able to take up new employment directly.
Stable demand for personnel
Despite the increased unemployment rate, the demand for personnel from Jena companies remains at a solid level. In April alone, 252 new job vacancies were reported to the Agentur für Arbeit. In total, job seekers can currently choose from 1,104 vacant positions. The greatest opportunities in the labor market are currently offered by the service sector, healthcare, the construction industry, and retail.
In Germany, the support for job seekers is roughly divided into two pillars: The Agentur für Arbeit (according to SGB III) is responsible for persons who are entitled to unemployment benefit I – an insurance benefit from previous employment subject to social security contributions. The Jobcenter (according to SGB II) looks after the recipients of Citizen’s Benefit (Bürgergeld). This also includes those whose income needs to be supplemented or the long-term unemployed. Jena, as a strong university and technology location, generally benefits from a robust overall economy, which is why the focus of labor market actors is often strongly on further training and the targeted placement of skilled workers.
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Arbeitslosigkeit in Jena steigt leicht an
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.