Rising Demand for Extended Childcare Hours in Germany

In Germany, there is a notable increase in the demand for extended childcare hours in kindergartens, according to recent data released by the Federal Statistical Office. From 2014 to 2024, the number of children enrolled in programs offering more than 35 hours of care per week surged by 30%. Impressively, nearly two-thirds of these children--64%--are registered for over 45 hours of care each week.

Furthermore, the trend is not limited to longer hours; there has also been a rise in the number of children receiving care for shorter durations. Specifically, the number of children with weekly care hours ranging from 25 to 35 increased by 25% during the same period. In contrast, the number of children receiving up to 25 hours of care weekly saw a decline of 8%.

The average agreed-upon care time has risen from 35.3 hours to 36.1 hours per week over the last decade. During this period, the total number of children in daycare increased from approximately 3.29 million to 3.94 million.

As the number of children requiring care grows, so does the need for qualified personnel in childcare facilities. In response, the number of educators in kindergartens has also increased significantly. By 2024, there were about 724,000 childcare workers, marking a 46% increase from roughly 494,000 in 2014.

Despite this increase in workforce numbers, many facilities continue to face staffing challenges. The Federal Statistical Office has pointed out that a significant portion of the workforce is employed part-time. In 2024, 67% of educational staff in kindergartens worked less than 38.5 hours per week, which is up from 65% in 2014.

In 2023, over 55,000 individuals completed training programs to become educators, social assistants, or child caregivers--the highest number recorded to date. This increase in vocational training is crucial, especially as the sector continues to depend on foreign professionals. In the same year, there were 2,778 applications for the recognition of foreign qualifications in education, with 1,743 being approved.

Countries such as Spain, Ukraine, and Turkey have seen the highest number of qualification recognitions, reflecting a growing trend toward international collaboration in meeting the staffing needs of German childcare facilities.