Summary
Germany faces a critical shortage of health-care workers, with 47,400 unfilled positions in 2023/2024, particularly for physiotherapists (11,600 vacancies), dental assistants (7,350), and nursing staff (7,100), according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW).
The aging population is driving increased health-care demand, with those aged 65+ projected to rise from 21% to 29% by 2030.
The study highlights a broader labor market issue, with over 530,000 skilled worker vacancies across all industries, including 42,000 in construction-related fields.
Part of the problem in Germany is also the language barrier. A lot of employers are simply refusing to hire someone who doesn’t know German and their inflexibility. But if they want to continue striving, they sure as hell need to adapt to the new reality and make things more appealing to young professionals.
The truth is that salaries in the sector for those roles are on the lower end and a lot of people prefer to find better paid jobs.