While the situation on the labour market remains stable but without momentum, the Federal Employment Agency is offering numerous events from 16 to 20 March 2026 to support school pupils in their career choices. Various regional campaigns, digital parents' evenings (e.g. from 2 to 5 March 2026) and training fairs will help them find the right apprenticeship. By presenting professions and companies and creating contact opportunities, school leavers are supported in their transition from school to vocational training. You can find the programme below in the download area.
The East Brandenburg labour market in February:
Unemployment rate remains at 6.8 per cent – situation stable but lacking momentum
In February, a total of 15,600 people were registered as unemployed in the city of Frankfurt (Oder), the district of Märkisch-Oderland and the district of Oder-Spree. That is 4 more than in January and 153 fewer than in February 2025.
The unemployment rate is 6.8 per cent. In February last year, it was 6.9 per cent.
The head of the East Brandenburg employment agencies, Jochem Freyer, assesses the current situation: "The labour market has not yet bottomed out. According to estimates, Germany is currently losing 15 thousand industrial jobs every month. I am very pleased that our two most important companies, Arcelor Mittal and Tesla, are holding on to their staff, unlike many others. The fact that unemployment in East Brandenburg has not risen further despite the cold weather gives us some hope. Skilled workers with experience are still in demand. It remains difficult for career starters and career changers. A slight increase in the number of registered training places is pleasing. In March, we will be intensively mobilising young people with numerous events and making several training offers to everyone in East Brandenburg."
Marco Schulz, Managing Director of the Märkisch-Oderland Job Centre: "Together with various partners, we are currently organising various events to support the job search. For example, a job dating event entitled "MEET EVERYDAY HELPERS IN HOSPITAL, CARE & SOCIAL WORK" will take place on 4 March 2026. On 26.03.2026, we are organising an education fair to provide information about current offers. On 25 April 2026, the "Neuhardenberg Job Festival" will follow in keeping with tradition, where many employers will present themselves and there will be good opportunities for new jobs and apprenticeships. All events are free of charge and no registration is required. Further information can be found on our homepage: www.jobcenter-mol.de. We would currently also like to promote the many opportunities to get in touch with us and make the best possible use of them on your way into the labour market and in a phase in which you are dependent on the help of the job centres. We have already made great strides into the future here too, so that people seeking help no longer have to travel to the job centres for simple matters, for example, but can deal with them themselves online. We would also like to expressly call on and encourage people to do this, because the future will be digital. If anyone needs support with this, they are welcome to ask us to show them how and help them. We also recommend making an appointment online before someone sets off and the usually complex issues cannot be clarified immediately. If it is not possible online, for example because the technical requirements are not met, the appointment can also be arranged by telephone on 03346 / 8528 - 500. Our offices are available by telephone every day. To avoid unnecessary waiting times, we recommend that you also use the off-peak times to contact us by phone."
Kathleen Nepp, Deputy Managing Director of Jobcenter Frankfurt (Oder): "We support people in successfully entering or re-entering the labour market. We focus on individual counselling, close cooperation with companies and network partners as well as targeted financial support. A project that has just started called "EVA – engagiert, vollumfänglich, aktiv" plays an important role in this. In this project, we support women between the ages of 25 and 35 on their path into the labour market. As this path is not always straightforward, we provide support and social counselling. Our counsellors in the project also provide support when a childcare place needs to be organised or other paths need to be accompanied. Docking in measures such as "Integration through practice" or a qualification can also be used to show the women their potential, strengths and other opportunities for starting a career. The main aim is to place them in employment, even part-time. We can then support this with an additional financial incentive – the so-called introductory allowance – which increases the disposable income for a few months after starting work. We provide support on the path to a new career perspective – individually, pragmatically and sustainably."
