Thousands fewer children in Saxony daycare centers

The number of children in Saxony's daycare centers fell significantly last year. As of March 2025, around 312,000 children were still being looked after there, around 7,500 fewer than a year earlier, according to the State Statistical Office. Within a year, the number of daycare centers in the state also fell by 15 and amounted to 3,050 in March 2025.

In view of the figures, Minister of Culture Conrad Clemens (CDU) said: "With every child less, Saxony loses something of its future." According to him, 25 percent fewer children are expected at elementary school by 2040. "A development that we will feel first in nurseries and kindergartens."

The city of Chemnitz, for example, recently announced that it would be cutting 1,000 nursery places in light of demographic change. Mergers of facilities are also being considered there.

Fewer employees in daycare centers

According to figures from the state office, the number of employees in daycare centers also fell by around 2.4 percent within a year. Last March, around 43,000 people were still working in nurseries and crèches in the state.

According to Clemens, the falling number of children will free up state funds. According to him, this money is already being used to improve the childcare ratios at nurseries. Crèches are also set to benefit from this in the summer. Around 210 additional full-time staff will then be available there.