Curiosity about Nursing Profession
Driving Up the Care Game: Germany's Boost in Care Profession Training
Wiesbaden (dts Nachrichtenagentur) - The fascination with care professions has been on the rise in Germany, with 71,300 fresh faces jumping on the bandwagon in 2019. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) shared this exciting news on Wednesday, marking an 8.2% leap or an additional 5,400 trainees compared to the previous year.
Approximately 44,900 care enthusiasts graduated from their training, making this grueling yet rewarding career path increasingly appealing in recent years. In 2009, only 51,400 individuals decided to embark on this demanding journey, a number that has skyrocketed to 71,300, recording a whopping 39% growth over a decade.
The number of successful graduates has also seen a significant surge: In 2019, 25% more individuals were celebrating their accomplishments compared to 2009 (2009: 36,000). The care profession might still be a lady's domain, with 75% of novices being female, but the number of men has increased considerably in the last ten years. While it was 19% in 2009, it climbed up to 25% in 2019, according to statisticians.
The care professions encompass various disciplines, including geriatric care, health and nursing care, and health and children's nursing care. For those eyeing a quick start, there's always the option of completing a one-year training course in health and nursing care assistance or geriatric care assistance. Among these professions, geriatric care witnessed the most significant training participants increase, going from 19,400 in 2009 to 27,300 in 2019, a leap of 41%. The training course for health and nursing care also gained around 5,200 more people in 2019 than ten years ago (21,400).
Individuals who successfully complete their training and continue to work in the profession can look forward to an average gross monthly salary of 3,502 euros - this was the gross monthly salary of a full-time health and nursing care professional in 2019, according to the Federal Office. For trained geriatric nurses, the gross monthly salary averaged 3,116 euros, which is below the average gross salary of skilled workers in the entire economy (manufacturing and services) of 3,327 euros. Interestingly, around 60% of nurses and more than half (57%) of geriatric nurses worked in shift work in 2019. An even larger proportion were affected by weekend work: 74% of nurses and 79% of geriatric nurses worked regularly on Saturdays and Sundays in 2019.
Behind the Surge: What's Fueling the Boom in Care Profession Training?
The data does not reveal specific insights into Germany's care profession training growth between 2009 and 2019. However, understanding global trends and factors that may impact such growth, a few possibilities could have spurred the surge in care profession training:
- An Aging Population and its Healthcare Needs: As a population ages, the demand for healthcare services increases, leading to a rise in the need for trained caregivers. Germany, like many countries, underwent demographic changes during this period, which might have contributed to the growth in training programs.
- Government Policies and Initiatives: Government measures, such as funding for training programs, increased support for vocational education, or specific healthcare legislation, play an essential role in propelling the education and training in care professions.
- Economic Factors: A stable economy with a growing healthcare sector may entice more individuals to pursue training in these sectors.
- Technological Advancements and Specialization: The progress in medical technology and the need for specialized care might have propelled the demand for skilled workers in the care sector. Training programs could have subsequently evolved to offer more specialized courses to cater to these demands.
- Public Awareness and Social Recognition: Increased public awareness of healthcare issues and the importance of care professions may have driven interest in these fields, with improved working conditions potentially contributing to attracting more trainees.
Exploring government reports, academic studies, or healthcare industry analyses from this time is crucial to determine the specific factors leading to Germany's increase in care profession training during this period.
Other science and health-and-wellness sectors might have witnessed increased demand due to the growth in care profession training. This could be attributed to the evolution of training programs to offer more specialized courses in response to advancements in medical technology.
The surge in care profession training in Germany could also be connected to a rise in public awareness and social recognition of healthcare issues, potentially improving working conditions and attracting more trainees.
