Summary
Germany faces a critical shortage of health-care workers, with 47,400 unfilled positions in 2023/2024, particularly for physiotherapists (11,600 vacancies), dental assistants (7,350), and nursing staff (7,100), according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW).
The aging population is driving increased health-care demand, with those aged 65+ projected to rise from 21% to 29% by 2030.
The study highlights a broader labor market issue, with over 530,000 skilled worker vacancies across all industries, including 42,000 in construction-related fields.
I appreciate the insight. So if I’m understanding you correctly, the AfD while they’re picking up fringe support, hasn’t really been able to broaden its coalition and lacks the capacity to hijack the government, even from a position of plurality.
I’m curious how the overall public perception of immigration will be for Germans going forward, considering the assimilation of the Syrian refugees Merkel took in, Germany’s aging workforce, as well as the existing need to fill jobs like medicine. Are there polling data trends available on this?
It seems like there’s more animosity towards immigrants, but I honestly think it reached a peak a while ago. The Syrian refugee diaspora was ten years ago. Any increase in right-wing extremism is from a general, global fad. They seem to feed off each other. These are just feelings. I don’t have any data