Thuringia educational leave usage remains below one percent

Data presented by the DGB Hessen-Thüringen in Erfurt reveals that a very small fraction of employees in Thuringia utilize the legal entitlement to paid educational leave. Despite Thuringia being one of the last German states to implement this system a decade ago, usage remains low, with the proportion of employees using it staying well below one percent.

Between October 2024 and October 2025, 3,528 employees used the leave, followed by 3,637 employees between October 2025 and April of this year. The number of educational providers offering this leave has also declined from approximately 800 in 2016 to between 500 and 600 in recent years.

Renate Sternatz, deputy district chair of the DGB, emphasized that educational leave is a vital component for lifelong learning, professional development, and social engagement. The DGB is calling for an expansion of the law, including extending the entitlement to apprentices. Conversely, the Chambers of Industry and Commerce have expressed a desire to see the option abolished.