Berliner Boersenzeitung - Aged Care Salaries Rise Amid Staffing Crisis and Funding Pressures

Salaries for qualified aged care workers in Germany have risen sharply, with the average monthly gross income reaching nearly €4,440. While pay scales now compete with other professions, the sector faces a critical staffing shortage and financial instability within the long-term care insurance fund, prompting government reform efforts.

The Federal Employment Agency reports that the wage range is wide: one-quarter of specialists earn just under €4,000, while another quarter earns nearly €4,900 or more. Hourly rates in long-term care average €24.50, with a 3.4 percent increase projected for the current year. Qualified staff earn approximately €28 hourly, assistants €23.40, and helpers nearly €21.

Regional disparities remain significant. The highest average wages are found in Baden-Württemberg and Hamburg at roughly €4,600 monthly, while Saxony records the lowest at just under €4,200. State facilities typically adhere to collective bargaining agreements, whereas private institutions set their own pay, though they must align with regional norms if no contract exists.

Despite these increases, recruitment remains difficult. The long-term care insurance system is in a strained financial position, leading to reform initiatives by the federal government. The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) warns that higher wages for care staff could influence the out-of-pocket contributions required from beneficiaries.

The profession is classified as a shortage occupation with an insufficient labor supply. Nearly one in four of the approximately 840,000 care workers comes from abroad. The number of socially insured employees has grown by more than one-fifth over the last decade, with about 80 percent being women.

Training for nursing and aged care has been combined for several years, allowing specialization in the third year. The minimum wage is €21.03 per hour for specialists and €16.52 for care assistants, with at least 29 days of vacation. These regulations do not apply to private households acting as employers.

(S.G.Stein--BBZ)