A new survey by the DGB reveals that many employees in Germany doubt they will be able to maintain their current jobs until they reach the official retirement age. This pessimism is particularly high among workers engaged in roles that are physically or psychologically demanding, according to an evaluation of the “Good Work” index reported by Funke Media Group publications.
Yasmin Fahimi, head of the DGB, called the findings “bitter,” stating that four out of ten employees do not believe they can continue working until retirement under current conditions. This problem is acute in sectors such as trades, caregiving, construction, and education-in these fields, more than half of the workforce is affected, indicating that both highly physically stressful and mentally demanding activities are contributing factors. Fahimi urged the government to stop ignoring these realities when making pension decisions.
The assessment surveyed nearly 28,000 workers between 2022 and 2026. The results showed that only 53 percent of respondents felt confident about being able to continue their current duties until the legal retirement age without restrictions; conversely, 40 percent do not foresee this happening.
Concerns are especially pronounced within specific professions. For example, 72% of those working in plumbing and heating expect not to be able to work until retirement. In healthcare, 71% of nurses feel the same, while figures stand at 67% for elderly care, 66% for high-rise construction workers, and 57% for educators.
The study points directly to working conditions as a critical cause. Employees facing intense physical strain, permanent time pressure, or severe noise levels are significantly less confident about working until retirement age. Specifically, 72% of those performing very frequent heavy manual labor anticipate having to exit the profession early. Similarly high rates include 61% affected by loud noise and 59% dealing with constant deadlines. Furthermore, extended working hours, limited autonomy, and a lack of employer-provided health promotion contribute negatively to job satisfaction.
Fahimi stressed that the national goal must be to keep people healthy in employment until the statutory retirement age. Instead of continuously raising the bar for when people retire, she argued there is a need for dignified transitions into retirement and healthier working conditions overall. It would be unacceptable for entire generations to become ill before retiring and then have to accept pension deductions simply due to poor working lives.
These findings come amid intense national debates concerning the future of the statutory pension system. This week, the Pension Commission had recommended that the retirement age should eventually be linked to increasing life expectancy-a recommendation subsequently supported by the Union and SPD coalition parties. However, from the DGB’s perspective, this new data shows that working conditions must first be improved for many employees before any discussion about extending employment lifespan can logically begin.
