Overview
- The Federal Statistical Office, in a release on July 8, 2026, reported 752,100 teachers at general schools with 35.4% aged 50 or older, 43.9% in part-time posts, and 11.2% lacking a recognized teaching qualification.
- Part-time work has reached a record high since 2009 with women driving the trend: 51.4% of female teachers work part time compared with 23.3% of male teachers.
- The share of lateral entrants without recognized qualifications rose from 4.3% in 2014/15 to 11.2% in 2024/25, with higher rates in vocational schools and some eastern states.
- State education ministries and the conference of education ministers have flagged a shortfall of trained teachers for 2025–2027 and are preparing short-term steps such as redeployments, limits on part-time arrangements, and mandated overtime.
- The expansion of guaranteed full-day care from August 1 increases staffing demand and could require roughly 100,000 additional workers in schools and care programs, while demographic and regional differences mean pressure will vary across Länder.