Jena, May 29, 2026 – The number of unemployed persons in Jena fell slightly in May compared to the previous month, while the unemployment rate now stands at 6.3 percent.
- Topic: Development of the labor market in Jena (May 2026)
- Current unemployed: 3,634 persons (110 fewer than in the previous month)
- Unemployment rate: 6.3 percent (-0.2 percentage points compared to April)
- Vacancies: 1,140 registered job openings (including 289 new entries in May)
- Bürgergeld recipients: 4,054 employable beneficiaries (-5% compared to the previous year)
Unemployment figures in monthly and year-on-year comparison
According to current data from the Agentur für Arbeit, 3,634 people were registered as unemployed in Jena in May. This corresponds to a decrease of 110 people compared to the previous month of April. Consequently, the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 6.3 percent.
However, the positive trend of the previous month is offset by the development over a longer period: compared to the same month last year (May 2025), the number of unemployed persons increased by 142. In contrast, the Jobcenter recorded a consistently positive trend for recipients of Bürgergeld: the number of employable beneficiaries supported there fell by five percent compared to the previous year to 4,054 people.
High demand: These sectors are looking for staff
Despite the economic dynamics, companies in Jena continue to report a constant high demand for personnel. During the month of May, 289 new job offers were received by the Agentur für Arbeit. A total of 1,140 vacancies are currently registered in the city area. The demand for labor is primarily distributed across the following sectors:
- Services: Overall high demand for skilled and unskilled workers across the entire sector.
- Health and social services: High demand for personnel in nursing facilities, clinics, and care institutions.
- Industry: Job offers in regional manufacturing and the production sector.
- Construction: Ongoing demand for craftsmen and skilled workers for construction projects.
- Trade: Vacancies in the retail and wholesale sectors.
🏛️ Jena as an economic center in Thüringen
The city of Jena is traditionally considered one of the strongest economic and scientific locations in the Freistaat Thüringen. Due to the close networking of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, research-related institutes, and globally active technology companies such as Zeiss, Schott, or Jenoptik, the region has an above-average density of highly qualified jobs. This structure contributes to the stability of the employment situation in a state-wide comparison, but also presents employers with the challenge of continuously securing skilled labor during ongoing structural change.
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Arbeitslosigkeit in Jena geht zurück
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.