Number of employees in German healthcare sector increased by 1.7 percent - Germany's Nursing Workforce Surges as CNA Jobs Lead 2024 Growth
Germany's healthcare workforce expanded steadily by the end of 2024, with nearly 6.2 million people employed in the sector. This marked a rise of about 1.7 percent compared to the previous year. The most significant growth came from nursing roles, particularly among nursing assistants, also known as CNAs.
The number of nursing professionals climbed by 49,000, an increase of 3.4 percent across all areas. Inpatient and partial inpatient care saw the sharpest rise, adding 64,000 jobs—3 percent more than in 2023. Outpatient care also grew, with employment up by 32,000 (1.3 percent) over the same period.
CNAs experienced the highest surge in employment, rising by 5.2 percent. This outpaced the 2.6 percent growth seen among fully qualified nurses. By the end of 2024, Germany employed around one million qualified nurses and roughly 485,000 CNAs. Meanwhile, staffing in pharmacies remained largely unchanged. The Federal Statistical Office, reporting from Wiesbaden on January 27, 2026, highlighted that stationary care facilities drove much of the sector's expansion.
The healthcare sector's workforce now stands at nearly 6.2 million, an increase of about 102,000 from 2023. Nursing roles, especially in inpatient settings, led the growth. The data reflects a continued demand for care professionals across the country.
