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Chemnitz / Dresden (dpa / sn) - Nursing homes and nursing services in Saxony have increasing problems filling vacancies.
In 2020, according to data from the Federal Employment Agency, there were 974 vacancies for 130 unemployed geriatric nurses in the Free State.
It took an average of more than six months for a position to be filled, said the regional directorate at the request of the German Press Agency in Chemnitz.
The trend is likely to intensify.
On the one hand, the number of people in need of care is increasing due to the aging population;
on the other hand, older skilled workers retire without enough young men and women moving up in the care sector.
According to calculations by the Institute for Employment Research, the increase in the number of people in need of care will require more than 21,000 additional caregivers in Saxony by 2030.
"Despite the consistently high number of nursing trainees - around 1,600 beginners per year - the care sector in Saxony is characterized by an increasing shortage of skilled workers," states the Ministry of Social Affairs in Dresden.
According to the information, skilled workers from abroad could help.
To this end, “coordinated structures” are being set up in cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency.
For example, ten Mexican nurses received their recognition in July and worked in various facilities.
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The proportion of foreign carers for the elderly is comparatively low in Saxony.
Nationwide, one in ten employees in the industry does not have German citizenship, in Saxony it is only about one in 27, according to statistics from the Federal Employment Agency.
Securing skilled workers is first and foremost the task of companies, according to the agency.
Retraining is also an option.
From 2013 to 2019, 3800 people in Saxony began retraining to become geriatric nurses, which was financially supported.
In addition, according to the experts, the nursing profession needs to be promoted more among pupils and this work must become more attractive.
This included age-appropriate working conditions, working hours that can be reconciled with looking after children, and better pay.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210307-99-720991 / 2
Forecast by the State Statistical Office on the need for nursing staff