The number of unemployed people in Germany rose to five million last month, the highest in the post-World War II period. This comes at the same time as the Hartz reforms, which transferred some longtime welfare recipients to the jobless rolls. Despite these bleak numbers, many officials feel that a change to Germany?s unemployment system was long overdue and will eventually strengthen the economy.
See "German Joblessness Rises as Benefits Are Reduced", Mark Landler, The New York Times, February 2, 2005