German Municipalities Warn of Public Service Collapse Due to Staffing Crisis

A severe personnel shortage threatens essential services, with calls for urgent digital transformation and AI adoption to mitigate the crisis.

The German Association of Towns and Municipalities reports over 100,000 unfilled positions in public administration, with the number expected to rise significantly by 2030.
Nearly one-third of the 1.65 million municipal employees are set to retire within the next decade, exacerbating the staffing crisis.
Critical sectors such as public transportation and childcare are already facing acute shortages, with 50,000 bus drivers and over 100,000 childcare workers needed in the next five years.
The association emphasizes the urgent need for artificial intelligence and digital tools to maintain public services and address inefficiencies in administration.
André Berghegger, the association's chief executive, criticizes slow progress in digital transformation and calls for modernized employment models to attract and retain talent.