Nearly 3.2 Million Germans Seek Employment Despite InactivityThu 16th May, 2024In Germany, approximately 3.2 million individuals aged between 15 and 74 expressed a desire to work but were not immediately available for the labor market in 2023. Breakdown of the Inactive WorkforceWithin this "silent reserve," 372,000 individuals indicated they were seeking employment but were unable to start work at short notice, often due to caregiving responsibilities (Silent Reserve A). The largest group, comprising 1.85 million people, were neither looking for work nor available at short notice but still desired employment (Silent Reserve C). Health issues were a significant factor for both genders, affecting 35 percent of men and 20 percent of women in the silent reserve. Qualifications Among the InactiveOf those in the silent reserve, 58 percent had medium to high qualifications, defined as having completed vocational training or possessing a university entrance qualification.
