German industry has lost nearly half a million jobs since 2019, Ifo says

BERLIN, Oct 19 (Reuters) German industry has shed nearly half a million jobs since 2019, an Ifo study showed ​on Monday, as manufacturers grapple ‌with mounting competitive pressure. Here are some key points: • At the end of 2025, 496,000 fewer people were working than at the start of 2019, ‌a ​drop of 7.1%. • In ⁠the service sector, more ⁠than 2.2 million jobs were created, primarily in health and social services, and in public administration. • Germany is undergoing an ​accelerated structural shift. Ironically, the very sectors that have sustained our prosperity up ⁠to now are shrinking, ⁠said Joachim Ragnitz, managing director ​at Ifo. • The new jobs are for the most ​part not being created where Germany ‌is especially productive and innovative. That may slow down our growth potential in the future, Ragnitz said. • Employment is shrinking in ⁠almost all industrial sectors, which is likely a result of declining competitiveness, particularly against China, the ⁠study ‌said. • Th