Nearly half of German leather-sector manufacturers are cutting jobs
The temporary closure of factories in Germany as part of measures to control the covid-19 pandemic has led almost half of the country’s manufacturers of leather, leathergoods and footwear to cut jobs.
In a recent survey, research body the ifo Institute asked companies in a range of industrial sectors if they had reduced employment as a result of the manufacturing shutdown, which began in mid-March. The Munich-based institute asked companies if they had made decisions about dismissing employees or not renewing employment contracts; its focus was not on a federal government-backed furlough programme.
Results suggested that 48% of manufacturers of leather, leathergoods and footwear had reduced levels of employment, a higher percentage than any other industrial sector, including automotive, which stood at 39%, and furniture at 26%.
