Staffing Concerns in the Nursing Field Despite a Growing Number of Trainees

Despite a significant increase in the number of trainees and skilled workers, there are major staffing concerns in the nursing professions. “There has been and continues to be a real shortage of skilled workers in nursing—and this problem will persist and grow,” said a spokeswoman for the Saxony Regional Office of the Federal Employment Agency.

According to the agency, demand for nursing staff has risen significantly in recent years, and there are hardly any unemployed skilled workers: In Saxony, there is currently only one trained nursing professional seeking employment for every two open positions—an acute shortage. As a result, filling open positions is currently taking an exceptionally long time. There are regional differences: Generally speaking, the challenges in rural areas are significantly greater than in cities.

More and more people are working in the care sector

And this is despite the fact that more and more young (and, in some cases, older) people are choosing a career in care: According to the most recent data from last February, 11,320 people are undergoing training in healthcare professions, including nursing, midwifery, and geriatric care. Over the past ten years, this number has risen by nearly 80 percent. According to data from the State Statistical Office, approximately 4,150 trainees alone began their training last year. 

Employment figures for salaried nursing staff also rose sharply: There were 113,240 employees in February—meaning that around 23,000 new jobs have been created since 2016. The number of employees in support roles rose particularly sharply. Just under 35,000 people were working in that sector most recently—an increase of 50 percent.

However, because many of the skilled workers will reach retirement age in the coming years, the Regional Directorate estimates that one in every two positions will likely need to be filled by 2040. Added to this is the need for additional staff due to the expected increase in the number of people requiring care, driven by the aging population and medical advances.

A major staffing shortage looms in 2040

To ensure adequate care, Saxony will therefore need up to 21,000 additional full-time care workers by 2040, as indicated by a study from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), the research arm of the Federal Employment Agency. Since more than half of all nursing staff work part-time, the actual staffing need is significantly higher, according to the spokesperson for the regional directorate.

According to the study, there are many approaches to closing this gap. These include, for example, expanding working hours from part-time to full-time and training assistants to become skilled professionals. In addition, the working conditions in the care profession must be made more attractive, for instance through collective bargaining agreements and higher wages.