Agentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) is a German institution responsible for providing services related to the labor market, such as job placement, career counseling, and payment of unemployment benefits. Its headquarters are located in Nuremberg.
Structure and Supervision
Agentur für Arbeit is a public law corporation with self-governance, under the legal supervision of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). The organizational structure includes:
- Head Office: Responsible for developing strategies and managing operations at the national level.
- Regional Directorates: Ten units managing the activities of Agentur für Arbeit in different regions of Germany.
- Employment Agencies: 150 local offices with around 600 branches that carry out tasks at the local level.
- Jobcenters: 301 employment centers cooperating with local authorities to integrate job seekers.
Detailed information on the organizational structure can be found in the official organizational chart of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en
Unemployment Benefits (Arbeitslosengeld)
There are two main types of unemployment benefits in Germany:
Arbeitslosengeld I (ALG I)
- Eligibility: Employment for at least 12 months within the last 30 months and payment of unemployment insurance contributions.
- Benefit amount: 60% of previous net income for people without children and 67% for people with children.
- Duration: From 6 to 24 months, depending on the length of the contribution period and the beneficiary’s age.
Arbeitslosengeld II (ALG II), also known as Bürgergeld
- Eligibility: No entitlement to ALG I or insufficient income.
- Benefit amount: A fixed amount depending on living conditions; currently, it is 563 EUR per month for a single person.
Would you like to learn more about Bürgergeld in Germany?
Check out my comprehensive step-by-step guide on Bürgergeld (formerly known as Hartz IV).
Rights and Obligations of Beneficiaries
People receiving benefits have the right to:
- Support in finding a job.
- Access to training and retraining programs.
At the same time, they are obligated to:
- Actively look for work.
- Participate in proposed training programs.
- Inform Agentur für Arbeit of any changes in their personal situation.
Absence Regulations (Ortsabwesenheit)
Benefit recipients must inform Agentur für Arbeit about any planned absence (e.g., holidays) and obtain approval to avoid losing their entitlement to benefits.
Training (Weiterbildung) and Retraining (Umschulung)
Agentur für Arbeit offers financial support for training and retraining courses aimed at improving employment opportunities. It is possible to obtain a so-called “Bildungsgutschein” (training voucher), which covers the costs of courses.
Insurance and Pension (Versicherung and Rente)
People receiving unemployment benefits are covered by mandatory health and pension insurance, ensuring continuous social protection.
Summary
Agentur für Arbeit plays a key role in the German labor market system, offering a wide range of services for unemployed persons and job seekers. Thanks to various support programs, training opportunities, and financial benefits, it promotes the professional and social integration of citizens.
