Spring upturn very subdued – unemployment rate in East Brandenburg remains at 6.7 per cent
In April, a total of 15,215 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. This is 129 fewer than in March and 7 more than in April 2025. The unemployment rate is 6.7 per cent, the same as in April last year.
The head of the East Brandenburg employment agencies, Jochem Freyer, analyses the development: "Unemployment has fallen less sharply than usual in April. Fortunately, there are still no major redundancies in East Brandenburg – but I don't see an upward trend either. Economic conditions will remain difficult in the coming months. One challenge for the economy is to continue investing in new technologies and its employees, even in these difficult times. We will provide intensive support for the transformation, particularly through training, advice and networking."
Marco Schulz, Managing Director of the Märkisch-Oderland Job Centre: "Anyone who didn't make it to Neuhardenberg for the Job Festival last weekend will get another chance straight away. On 8 and 9 May, the next training and job fair, the "Career Compass", will take place in the Giebelseehalle in Petershaben/Eggersdorf. Companies will be presenting themselves and their training and job vacancies. This fair offers another opportunity to look for suitable jobs in the region.
At the same time, preparations for the changeover to basic security benefits on 1 July are in full swing at the job centre. Employees in all areas are being trained so that we can provide seamless support to citizens and implement the new legal basis with the highest possible quality. There will not only be changes in terms of the granting of benefits, but those in need of assistance can also expect many changes in the context of finding work. At this point, I would like to reiterate the advantages of digital applications, e.g. no piles of paper that have to be copied and submitted, no errors due to difficult-to-read handwriting, no more postal routes, no dependence on opening hours. The present is already digital, the future will be even more digital. Take the opportunity to prepare for this now and seek advice. Our employees are happy to provide initial support to enable applicants to use the digital route alone in future."
Kathleen Nepp, Deputy Managing Director of Jobcenter Frankfurt (Oder): "With the Internship Week, which is taking place from 18 to 22 May this year, we want to appeal not only to school students, but also to people who are looking for a new professional role. Internships are a good way to check whether a job is right for you at any stage of your professional life. Our internship exchange www.einfachpraktikum.de, which is run by the Frankfurt (Oder) Employment Agency and the Jobcenters Frankfurt (Oder) and Märkisch-Oderland, offers a wide range of opportunities. An internship can last from a few hours to several days. The staff at the job centres are happy to provide advice and assistance. The internship is agreed with the employer and can be a step towards a new future. And if the internship was successful and there is still a lack of professional skills that stand in the way of starting work, the staff will be happy to advise you on the options for acquiring these skills. For this purpose, personal appointments or appointments for telephone or video counselling can be booked via our online scheduling system."