According to the Federal Employment Agency (BA), the unemployment figure reached 3.007 million in July, an increase of 71,000 from June and 28,000 from the previous year. The unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 6.4%. BA board member Daniel Terzenbach attributed the rise in unemployment and underemployment primarily to seasonal factors, including the conclusion of training contracts and reduced hiring before the summer holidays. The ongoing weak economic conditions, exacerbated by high energy prices and demographic shifts, further contribute to the labor market challenges.