Decline in sales in the skilled trades in the second quarter of 2026

Sales in the skilled trades are declining. Almost all trades are affected. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of employees has also decreased slightly overall – most significantly among bakers, butchers, and confectioners.

Real, i.e., price-adjusted, revenue in the regulated trades sector in Germany fell by 1,4 percent from the beginning of April to the end of June compared to the same period last year. At the end of June 2026, there were also 1,9 percent fewer people employed in regulated trades than at the end of June 2025, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

Crafts requiring a license mean that the manager of the craft business must hold a master craftsman's certificate (or a comparable qualification) and be registered in the trade register. This applies to 53 trades. Such a qualification is not required in crafts that do not require a license. These trades also reported a total revenue decline of 0,8 percent in real terms.

Photo: © Destatis

The steepest declines in revenue among licensed trades were reported by the finishing trades, trades serving commercial needs, and the food industry, each with a decrease of 2,4 percent. The construction industry saw a revenue decline of 1,8 percent, followed by trades serving private needs with a decrease of 1,6 percent and the healthcare sector with a decrease of 1,0 percent.

The automotive industry saw a real increase in sales of 0,4 percent.

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The sharpest decline in employment was in the food industry.

In the trades requiring a license, there were a total of 1,9 percent fewer people employed at the end of June 2026 than at the end of June 2025. The sharpest decline was in the food industry, with a decrease of 3,5 percent.

The smallest decline was in the healthcare sector, at minus 0,8 percent.

Source: Destatis

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