Industry hemorrhaging 15,000 jobs a month
Germany's industrial sector is shedding around 15,000 jobs every month, prompting fresh warnings that the country's manufacturing base is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades.
The stark assessment came from Tanja Gönner, Director General of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI), the Federation of German Industries, who described the current situation as "critical." Despite the losses, she insisted that Germany can still reverse the trend if it improves its competitiveness and creates better conditions for businesses to invest and innovate.
According to Gönner, Germany has lost ground against international competitors because of long-standing structural weaknesses, while external pressures have made the situation even worse. She pointed to US trade tariffs and growing competition from China, arguing that every political decision in Germany and Europe should be judged on whether it helps companies become more competitive.
The warning comes as Germany's industrial sector continues to struggle after years of slowing growth. Manufacturing, particularly the automotive, machinery and metal industries, has experienced significant job losses. Official figures recently showed that about 177,000 industrial jobs disappeared over the past year, with the monthly pace of around 15,000 losses continuing into 2026.
Even so, industry leaders believe Germany still has major strengths. Gönner said technologies such as artificial intelligence could help launch a new industrial revolution, provided companies receive the support they need to modernize. She stressed that German manufacturers possess valuable expertise in industrial production, data and processes that global technology companies cannot easily replicate, giving the country an opportunity to rebuild its competitive edge.