"Germany's unemployment rate rose by 0.1% in December 2024, reaching 6.0%, compared to 5.7% in December 2023, according to the office. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment figure increased by 10,000 people in December, which was less than the 15,000 predicted by analysts in a poll conducted by Reuters News Agency. The Federal Employment Agency's chairwoman, Andrea Nahles, noted that unemployment and underemployment typically increase in December due to the winter break in the job market. The ongoing economic downturn in 2024 has significantly impacted the labor market, according to Nahles."