A recent analysis reveals that daycare staff in Germany are experiencing significantly higher sick leave rates compared to other professions.

On average, childcare workers were unable to work for about 30 days in 2023, while the average for all professions was around 20 days.

The Bertelsmann Foundation attributes this trend to increased respiratory infections and psychological stress among staff.

The situation is exacerbated by a vicious cycle where high absenteeism leads to increased workload for remaining staff, further contributing to stress and illness.

Experts warn that this crisis threatens the quality of early childhood education and care.

To address the issue, the foundation suggests hiring an additional 97,000 full-time staff nationwide, costing approximately 5.8 billion euros annually.

Without intervention, the strain on daycare centers is expected to worsen, impacting both staff well-being and educational outcomes for children.