Germany's 2025 sickness benefit spending reaches €21.6 billion

In 2024 German employees were sick on average 14.8 days, with 5.9 % of the workforce absent on a typical day. The figure reflects data from the Federal Employment Agency and includes only absences longer than three days, suggesting the true number of sick days is higher. Legal experts note that repeated first‑time medical certificates can restart the six‑week wage‑continuation entitlement, affecting employer payouts.

A recent analysis projects that sickness‑benefit expenditures will climb to €21.6 billion in 2025, a record high. Since 2016, sick‑pay days have risen 24.4 %, averaging 6.8 days per affected employee. Psychological disorders and musculoskeletal conditions remain the main drivers, accounting for the bulk of lost work time. Companies are turning to AI‑enabled screenings, wearable health devices and data‑driven occupational health management to detect issues early and curb long‑term absences, while also navigating heightened data‑privacy requirements.