Number of German work days lost to strikes below 1 million in 2024
The number of working days lost to strikes in Germany fell to 946,000 in 2024, as workers walked off the job less often than in the previous year, according to a study released on Thursday.
While the number of workers joining strikes rose by 55,000 compared to 2023 – with some 912,000 employees joining picket lines in 2024 – the number of working days missed was significantly lower, as strikes tended to be shorter overall, according to the country’s Institute for Economic and Social Research (WSI).
In 2023, workers missed some 1.5 million days due to industrial action.
The WSI recorded a total of 286 industrial actions across the country in 2024, down by 26 compared to the previous year.
Strikes in the metal and electrical industries, which have powerful labour representation, drew the most walkouts, alongside strikes at ailing carmaker Volkswagen and in public transport, it said.
Most strikes were staged to demand pay increases amid a wave of high inflation, according to the institute. Working conditions also featured high on the list of workers’ concerns.
