The future demand for long-term carers in Germany : model calculations for the federal Länder until 2020

Abstract

"The increase in the birth rate shortfall, at the same time as an increase in life expectancy, will lead to more elderly people living in Germany in future, in both relative and absolute terms. The possible development in the demand for professional long-term carers until 2020 for the individual Federal Länder is illustrated in this essay using model calculations. Because of the differences in demographic change between the Federal Länder, the labour market for long-term care will develop heterogeneously in the federal territory as a whole. The increase in the number of persons in need of long-term care from its current level of 2.25 million to a forecast level of 2.9 million by 2020 will mean that professional long-term care in particular will continue to become more significant in Germany as a whole. The demand for long-term carers (in full-time equivalent posts) could increase from its current level of 561,000 to up to 900,000 by 2020. The actual development on the professional labour market will however be heavily dependent on the commitment of care-giving relatives. Additionally, possible productivity advances in the provision of long-term care services will play a role, as can be shown in various scenarios of the model calculations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Pohl, C. (2010): Der zukünftige Bedarf an Pflegearbeitskräften in Deutschland. Modellrechnungen für die Bundesländer bis zum Jahr 2020. In: Comparative Population Studies, Vol. 35, No. 2, p. 357-378. DOI:10.4232/10.CPoS-2010-09de