A Quarter of Caregivers in German Nursing Homes Are Foreign Workers, Aiding a Struggling Sector
Approximately one fourth of care workers in nursing homes are foreign nationals. - Approximately a quartet of nurses hails from foreign lands
Germany's care sector is grappling with a severe labor shortage, particularly in nursing homes, according to the Federal Employment Agency. Vanessa Ahuja, CEO in Nuremberg, states that the sector would've crumbled without foreign caregivers.
Over the past decade, the number of employees in the care sector has risen by around 20%, reaching 1.72 million—a growth significantly higher than the overall labor market. For three consecutive years, the increase in employment in care has been solely due to foreign workers. Now, 18% of caregivers in nursing homes, hospitals, and home care come from abroad, with the figure being almost 24% in nursing homes.
Many caregivers choose part-time work. According to the Federal Employment Agency, fewer caregivers hail from the European Economic Area and Switzerland—only 3,000 in 2024 as compared to 13,000 from outside these countries in the same period, who migrated through the Skilled Workers Immigration Act for a residence and work permit.
About half of caregivers worked part-time last year, compared to roughly a third of all employees. This trend is not solely because of the high proportion of women in the sector, which stands at around 80%. Approximately a third of men also worked part-time in the sector. Among all socially insured men, it was 13%.
The Overseas Lifeline of the Care Sector
These foreign workers have provided much-needed support to nursing homes, maintaining service quality and bridging staffing gaps. Despite the efforts, bureaucratic delays and lengthy processing times continue to be hurdles for foreign workers assimilating into the labor market.
Salaries are competitive, yet the care sector still grapples with retaining skilled workers due to challenging work conditions and high emotional demands. The German government has eased immigration policies by implementing new visa rules, the Opportunity Card, and a centralized "Work-and-Stay" agency to attract and retain skilled workers.
The EU Blue Card program offers a pathway for skilled workers, including those in the care sector, with a salary threshold of €48,300 for general occupations and €43,759.80 for bottleneck professions as of 2025. As is apparent, foreign workers have played a crucial role in alleviating labor shortages in Germany's care sector, but continual policy adjustments are necessary to overcome ongoing challenges and ensure the sector's sustainability.
- The proportion of foreign caregivers in Germany's care sector, particularly nursing homes, has risen significantly over the past decade, now accounting for about 18% of all caregivers across hospitals, nursing homes, and home care, and nearly 24% in nursing homes specifically.
- In 2024, the number of caregivers who migrated to Germany from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland through the Skilled Workers Immigration Act is expected to be six times higher than those from within these regions.
- Vocational training programs in science and health-and-wellness fields play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of the care sector, as continued policy adjustments are necessary to overcome ongoing challenges and retain skilled workers.
- While the overall high proportion of women in the care sector contributes to a higher prevalence of part-time work, approximately a third of men also work part-time in this sector, with rates being significantly higher than among all socially insured men.
