Survey sees Further German Job Cuts

Job cutbacks in Germany are expected to continue in 2004, according to a survey conducted by the Bild newspaper. The survey found that up to 235,000 trade and public service jobs are likely to be cut. Specifically, some 150,000 of the country’s 5.1 million trade jobs may be lost. While some 10,000 public service jobs are expected to be trimmed. Retailers, meanwhile, reckon with a lost of some 20,000 out of 2.5 million jobs. The hotel, construction and machine building industries each expect a loss of 15,000 jobs. And the electrical industry expects to cut 10,000 jobs. Job sectors that do not expect cuts include the automobile and chemical industries and information and communication technology.