German employment in metal production regresses 6.7 percent in April

At the end of April this year, 230,000 persons worked in metal production and processing in Germany. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on the basis of provisional results, the figure was 6.7 percent less than at the end of April 2009. The number of hours worked in April in metal production increased by 12.1 percent from a year earlier, reaching 29 million, while the earnings (total gross wages and salaries) amounted to $799 million, increasing by 2.6 percent year on year.
 
Meanwhile, as of the end of April, employment in metal product fabrication in Germany totaled 450,000 persons, regressing by 6.4 percent, while the number of hours worked in April amounted to 59 million, up 5.1 percent, and earnings came to €1.31 billion, increasing by 2.2 percent, all compared to April 2009.