German workers over 60 take more days off sick
A response from Germany’s health ministry provides figures on sickness absence among older workers.
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Workers aged 60 to 65 in Germany were incapacitated for work for an average of 31.3 days in 2024. That is more than twice the average of almost 15 days across all age groups, according to figures provided by Germany’s health ministry to the Bundestag.
The figures emerged in response to a parliamentary question from Die Linke. Deutschlandfunk reported on Wednesday that the 60-to-65 age group had been incapacitated for an average of 31.3 days.
The difference should be interpreted cautiously. The figures concern registered days of incapacity for work and do not mean that older workers are ill equally often in every sector or with every employer. The length of periods of illness may also carry more weight than the number of individual sickness notifications.
The publication comes amid a debate about the pension age. Die Linke’s pensions spokesperson called the figures a warning and said that a further increase in the pension age was incompatible with the health of older workers.
For Germany, this is a domestic debate, but the subject is also relevant to the Netherlands. Both countries face ageing populations, staff shortages and the question of how people can continue working for longer without increases in illness and absence.
The figures do not prove that working longer is impossible. Nor do these averages show which measures might reduce sickness absence.
No comparison with the Netherlands was made on the basis of this source. The German figures therefore cannot be directly applied to the Dutch labour market. They do, however, make visible the tension that arises when demographic necessity and physical capacity are not addressed at the same time.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The 60-to-65 age group had an average of 31.3 days of incapacity for work in 2024.
- The average across all age groups was around 15 days, according to the source.
- The figures have been used in the debate about the pension age.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that working longer is responsible only when employers adapt jobs, reduce workloads and strengthen illness prevention.
Values Health, solidarity and protection of workers.
Consequences Fears that a higher pension age would mainly affect people in physically demanding jobs and those on lower incomes.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises that population ageing may make working longer necessary, but that policy must be linked to differences between sectors and healthy working conditions.
Values Practicality, social balance and evidence-based policy.
Consequences Wants a combination of pension measures, prevention and tailored approaches without a single uniform solution.
Right
Arguments Generally emphasises that working longer is necessary to keep pensions affordable and that employers and employees share responsibility.
Values Personal responsibility, labour-force participation and financial sustainability.
Consequences Fears that exemptions and early retirement would increase pressure on workers and public finances.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current figures and political response were checked against Deutschlandfunk. The text avoids directly applying them to the Netherlands and makes clear what the figures do and do not measure.
- confirmed Workers aged 60 to 65 were incapacitated for work for an average of 31.3 days in 2024. — Deutschlandfunk quotes a response from Germany’s health ministry. source
- confirmed All age groups were registered as off sick for an average of almost 15 working days. — Figure from the same Deutschlandfunk publication. source
- confirmed The figures came from a response to a question from Die Linke. — Description in the current publication. source
Editor's note
The current German figures come from a ministerial response summarised by Deutschlandfunk. The second source provides broader context on age and sickness absence, but not the same German government series.Sources
- Ältere Beschäftigte mehr als 30 Tage im Jahr krank — Deutschlandfunk
- Fehlzeiten-Report 2025 — WIdO
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „duitsland arbeidsmarkt”
- AD — „duitsland arbeidsmarkt”
- de Volkskrant — „duitsland arbeidsmarkt”