Trends and facts 2021: Positive economic development despite corona

Nevertheless, in the year of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the region was able to record positive development in many areas. Employment figures and the labor market in particular are performing well.

The Hannover Regionhadjust under 519,000employeessubject to social security contributions in mid-2020. This is actually a slight increase compared to the previous year - despite the lockdown in spring. In 2019, the Hannover Region still had around 517,000 employees.

"The labour market has come through the pandemic relatively robustly - not least thanks to the stabilizing instrument of short-time work," emphasizes Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs.

Most employees in the Hannover Region currently work in the healthand social services sector (77,388). With 1813 additional employees (+2.4 percent), this sector has also seen the highest growth. This is followed by the manufacturing industry (71,345), trade (66,718) and the provision of other economic services (44,171). The transportand storage sector(+1,151 or +3.2 percent) and the public administration, defense and social security sector (+1,007 or +2.8 percent) added more employees than in the previous year.

Hanover Region

There are also signs of a further positive trend in employment figures for 2021,"reports Alexander Skubowius, Head of Economic and Employment Promotion in the region. "However, the coronavirus restrictions have also had a negative impact on some sectors."

In absolute figures, the provision of other economic services (-3066, or -6.5 percent) and manufacturing (-1254, or 1.7 percent) lost the most employees. The largest percentage decline was recorded in the hospitality industry (-7.3%, -1,217) and in the provision of other economic services (-6.5%, -3,066).

"The increase in employment last year mainly took place in the surrounding area.Around 190,000 people work there, 2300 more than in 2019," says Alexander Skubowius, Head of Economic and Employment Promotion.

After a brief sharp rise in unemployment in spring 2020 due to the coronavirus lockdown, the region benefited from the economic recovery in most sectors of the economy from the second half of the year onwards.

"At around 48,500, unemployment in June 2021 was even around 1,500 lower than in June 2020, when the labour market had already halfway recovered after the end of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic," emphasizes Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs.

However, the number of long-term unemployed (+ 6,353) and over 50s (+ 878) increased significantly during this period.

The Hannover Region can consolidate its position as an excellent location for training and education in terms of student numbers and vocational school pupils. As a location for science and research, the region is well known beyond the region, with Leibniz University, the Medical University and the University of Veterinary Medicine.

The Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media also offer excellent and highly regarded teaching and training. Around 51,300 (+ 600) students are enrolled at the universities in Hanover. Around 38,000 vocational school students attend the various educational institutions. Just under a third of the students learn business and administrative professions, followed by technical professions and social and health professions.

Overnight stays in the Hannover Region in 2020 - due to the corona lockdown - will only reach around half of the previous year's record level at around 2.1 million overnight stays. In the state capital as a congress and trade fair city, the decline is particularly sharp at -80% compared to the surrounding area at 29%. Background: With the exception of Domotex, no trade fairs were held in Hanover in 2020.

The "Trends and Facts" booklet is published in German and English and is available for download at wirtschaftsfoerderung-hannover.de. A printed version can be ordered by e-mail atanwirtschaftsfoerderung@region-hannover.deangefordert.