Schwerin/Kiel (dpa/mv) - Despite the gloomy mood in the economy and the federal government's growth forecasts that have been revised downwards, the head of the North Employment Agency, Markus Biercher, does not expect a slump in the labor market in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 2023. "I assume that employment will increase moderately, perhaps by 0.5 percent," Biercher said on Monday in Schwerin. This means that an annual average of around 586,000 people in the north-east would have a job subject to social security contributions. According to the employment agency, there were 582,400 in mid-2022. The number of unemployed will remain at the level of the year that is coming to an end, i.e. around 59,300 on a monthly average.
Biercher justified his comparatively optimistic expectations with the forecasts now published by the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research of the Federal Employment Agency in Nuremberg and the regional characteristics. Regardless of the debates about high energy prices and inflation in the country, there is still a brisk demand for skilled workers, and baby boomers are reaching retirement age. According to Biercher, the institute presented figures for three scenarios. He expects the middle to happen. In the worst case, however, unemployment figures are expected to rise by 16 percent.
