Archive

Energy transition in Germany slowed down: shortage of skilled workers

The shortage of skilled workers in key professions involved in the energy transition is becoming increasingly acute. Craft and technical professions, which are essential for the expansion of renewable energies, are particularly affected. This is the result of a study by the Competence Centre for Securing Skilled Workers (Kofa) at the employer-friendly German Economic Institute […]

Public service: more money, more flexible working hours

Since January, employers and trade unions have been arguing about future incomes and working hours in the public sector at federal and municipal level. This led to several strikes, and in the end mediators had to intervene. A collective agreement was finally reached recently. It affects more than 2.5 million municipal and federal employees. These […]

Baden-Württemberg: New authority – State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers LZF

The State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers (LZF) has been active in Baden-Württemberg since 1 April. The new authority is intended to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers and strengthen Baden-Württemberg as a business location by serving as a central point of contact for companies. Specifically, it is about digitised processing of applications, […]

Survey: ‘Nursing, how are you?’

The German Professional Association for Nursing Professions (DBfK) wants to use the survey “Nursing, how are you?”to determine how the mood among nurses is developing. According to the DBfK, the online survey is aimed at all professional caregivers and will run until 13 April 2025. It asks about satisfaction with the general conditions of the […]

Staffing levels at German hospitals remain difficult

Despite a significant increase in staffing levels in recent years, the shortage of staff continues to be a major problem for many hospitals in Germany. This is shown by the results of the new 2025 Skilled Labour Monitoring report by the German Hospital Federation (DKG), which is based on a survey of 135 hospitals. Between […]

Nursing training in Germany: more trainees in 2024

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of new nursing trainees in 2024 increased by nine percent or 5,100 to around 59,500 across Germany compared to the previous year. However, the number of trainees in nursing has not changed across all three current training years: 147,100 people in 2024, and thus around 200 more […]

Saxony: The recognition process is to be simplified

The German federal state of Saxony and its institutions are increasingly looking for nursing staff and are also turning their attention to other countries. Health Minister Petra Köpping is now pushing for more speed in the recognition of foreign qualifications. The recognition process should be made easier, faster and more effective: this begins with the […]

North Rhine-Westphalia: Chamber of Nursing warns of massive gaps in care

The Chamber of Nursing of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has collected comprehensive data on the nursing situation. According to this data, several cities in the state will experience a drastic shortage of nursing professionals. According to the chamber, the cities at particular risk are Coesfeld, Höxter, Kleve, Leverkusen, Minden-Lübbecke, Neuss, Soest, Steinfurt, […]

Nursing staff in Germany: How the minimum wage will rise by 2025

Those working in nursing now earn good money. In February 2022, the nursing commission agreed on a gradual increase in minimum wages in nursing, as well as additional vacation days, and proposed correspondingly gradually increasing hourly wages. The first increase in the minimum wage for nursing staff in Germany took place on 1 September 2022. […]