The Federal Employment Agency has concluded its 2025/26 training market review has been published, confirming a sustained upward trend in nursing training. According to the agency, demand for school-based training courses in health and social care rose noticeably. Detailed figures are provided by the Federal Statistical Office: in 2025, Germany around 63,900 new training contracts for nursing professionals were signed, 8 per cent more than in 2024. The total number of trainees in nursing occupations stood at around 157,200 in 2025. Destatis data published in March 2026 document the third consecutive increase in generalist nursing training.
Professional associations view the trend as a positive sign. The German Nursing Council called it progress, but stressed that the increase would only have a lasting impact if training quality, practical supervision and working conditions improved. Among other things, they are calling for more time and resources for workplace supervision, as well as reliable remuneration for trainers, so that more people starting out can complete their training successfully and enter the profession.
The training market is also structurally diverse, according to the Federal Employment Agency. While company-based training places were under pressure overall, school-based courses in health and social care grew. The 2026 Vocational Education and Training Report points to shifts between industries and occupations: demand for skilled workers in healthcare, driven by demographic change, is supporting demand for nursing training, while other sectors are faring less well.
The statistics also point to a slight increase in the number of male nursing trainees, although their share remains lower than that of women. Despite these gains, nursing remains an occupation with a shortage of workers. Forecasts of staffing needs and retirements suggest that additional training capacity and higher rates of trainees moving into jobs will be crucial in the coming years.
Political attention is therefore focused on implementation: how can workplace supervision and classroom training be better integrated, quality maintained across the board and drop-out rates reduced? Associations and employers point to the need for reliable funding, enough qualified workplace supervisors and clear career prospects. The Federal Employment Agency and the Federal Statistical Office see the latest figures as evidence of a recovery in nursing training, but meeting demand in the long term depends on stable conditions for training and employment.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).