Germany’s industrial sector is shedding around 15,000 jobs every month, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) has warned, describing the situation as critical. BDI Director General Tanja Gönner told the German press agency dpa last week that the country’s manufacturing base faces a “critical” period marked by declining competitiveness. High energy costs, bureaucracy, skilled-labour shortages and external pressures, including US trade policies and Chinese market distortions, are accelerating the job cuts by companies. Industry shed about 124,100 jobs in 2025 alone (a 2.3 per cent drop, nearly twice the 2024 figure) and roughly 266,000 positions since the pre-crisis year 2019. The BDI represents roughly 100,000 companies that together employ more than eight million people.