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Germany caregiving trends threaten labor market by 2045
A growing demand for care in Germany is projected to significantly impact the national labor market. An analysis by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Prognos research institute warns that by 2045, approximately 229,000 full-time positions could be lost as more people take on family caregiving responsibilities. The proportion of the working-age population providing care is expected to rise from 8.7 percent in 2023 to 13.3 percent by 2045.
Women are expected to bear the brunt of this shift. Projections suggest that roughly 580,000 women may reduce or cease their employment due to care duties by 2045, accounting for about 75 percent of the total projected job losses.
In the professional sector, long-term care wages have seen a 3.4 percent increase, reaching an average of 24.50 euros per hour as of October 2026. Meanwhile, the number of people in need of care in Germany has reached nearly 5.7 million, with the vast majority receiving care at home. Experts emphasize the need for better integration of professional work and caregiving to prevent long-term economic and gender equality setbacks.
Entities
Berlin · Bertelsmann Stiftung · Brandenburg · Federal Statistical Office · GKV-Spitzenverband · Germany · Prognos · TK
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The average hourly wage for employees in long-term care in Germany rose by 3.4 percent to 24.50 euros as of October 2026.
- [● 9 SOURCES] Women are expected to be disproportionately affected, with an estimated 580,000 women potentially reducing or ending their employment due to care duties by 2045. www.it-boltwise.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.dk-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The proportion of the working-age population providing care for relatives is projected to increase from 8.7 percent in 2023 to 13.3 percent by 2045. www.it-boltwise.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.dk-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +4 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 5.7 million people in Germany are currently in need of care. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de
- [● 9 SOURCES] An analysis by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Prognos research institute predicts that by 2045, approximately 229,000 full-time jobs could be lost due to family caregiving. www.it-boltwise.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.ad-hoc-news.de · www.dk-online.de · www.volksfreund.de · +4 more