A Snag in Thuringia's Industrial Gear: Auto and Machinery Sectors Falter Amidst General Growth
Struggles persist in the automotive and heavy machinery sectors. - Industries specializing in automotive and mechanical engineering are experiencing a persistent downturn.
Hey there! Put your seatbelts on, as we delve into the ever-evolving economic landscape of Thuringia, a state in the heart of Germany.
A gust of positivity blew through Thuringia early 2025, with the industrial sector recording a whopping 4.6% turnover increase in the first quarter, as announced by the Statistical Office in Erfurt. Yet, two crucial sectors, the automotive industry and the machinery sector, lagged behind. These sectors had already grappled with challenges the previous year.
The domestic turnover growth was a modest 3.9%, climbing to 5.9 billion euros. The export increase, however, was more prominent at 5.7%. With a total of 3.6 billion euros in exports, these accounted for more than a third (37.6%) of Thuringia's overall industrial turnover.
Job losses in multiple industries
Manufacturers of electrical equipment and service providers specializing in machine repair and installation fared better, with an influx of revenues. However, the turnover for machinery manufacturers dipped by over one-fifth, and the automotive industry saw a decline of around 11%.
This slide in the industrial sector had a ripple effect on employment figures. Over the period of January to March, an average of 141,000 individuals were employed. Regrettably, this number dropped by nearly 3,000 when compared to the same period the previous year, marking the seventh consecutive decline in employment. A total of 776 enterprises with at least 50 employees were surveyed.
Thuringia, with its rich history and a blend of modernity, finding itself amidst these industry-specific struggles—let's dissect the reasons.
- Thuringia
- Industrial Slump
- Troubled Sectors: Automotive and Machinery
- Turnover Increase
- Erfurt
- Employment Decline
- Amidst the general growth in Thuringia's industrial sector, concerning signals have arisen, particularly in the employment policies of the troubled sectors: the automotive and machinery industries.
- The employment policy in Thuringia needs careful scrutiny, given that the decline in the automotive and machinery sectors has led to a noticeable decrease in employment numbers, marking an ongoing trend in the state's labor market.
