German unemployment seen rising to highest level in almost a decade

Germany's economic weakness is finally taking a toll on the labour market, with the number of unemployed workers expected to rise to the highest level in almost a decade, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW). The study, which was seen by Reuters ahead of its release on Friday, showed that unemployment will rise to an average of just under 2.8 million this year, the highest level since 2015. However, that figure is well below the peak in 2005, when almost 4.9 million people were unemployed and Germany was considered the "sick man of Europe."