Germany public sector labor shortage could be eased by increasing full-time work

Increasing full-time employment within the German public sector could significantly mitigate current personnel shortages. According to data from the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft, transitioning all part-time employees in the public service to full-time positions could theoretically create an additional 634,000 full-time roles across federal, state, and municipal levels.

The German Beamtenbund has previously noted a shortage of approximately 631,000 employees, with critical gaps appearing in schools, daycare centers, and municipal administrations. Demographic shifts are expected to exacerbate these shortages.

Statistical data indicates that part-time work is often a necessity driven by caregiving responsibilities or childcare. In 2025, nearly 32 percent of dependent employees worked part-time; among women, more than half worked part-time, compared to approximately one in seven men. While increasing working hours offers a mathematical solution to labor gaps, the underlying reasons for part-time status remain tied to social and domestic obligations.