Germany's unemployment rate has hit a 12-year high, with 3.08 million people out of work, sparking concerns about the country's economic stability. The unemployment rate rose to 6.6% in January, up from 6.2% previously. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised to revive the economy through infrastructure and defense spending, but critics argue that his measures are too slow to address the crisis. $ENSO $SYN $BULLA