A stark and concerning trend is emerging in Germany, revealing a dramatic surge in work-related incapacity driven by mental health issues. Recent parliamentary responses to a detailed inquiry by the Left party, as reported by the Rheinische Post, paint a grim picture of the escalating crisis and highlight a critical lack of proactive governmental action.
The data reveals a more than doubling of sick days attributed to psychological conditions over the past decade. In 2024, women experienced a staggering 87.55 million days of work absence due to mental health struggles – a figure that has more than doubled from the 43.51 million days recorded in 2014. While men’s absences also reflect a significant increase, jumping from 26.88 million days in 2014 to 60.39 million in 2024, the relative increase is even more pronounced.
The severity of these conditions is also escalating. The average duration of work incapacity related to mental health has risen significantly, exceeding 42 days for both men and women in 2024 – roughly ten days more than the average recorded ten years prior. Notably, the overall average absence due to “any” illness in 2024 was only approximately 12 days, underscoring the disproportionate impact of mental health challenges on workforce productivity.
The proportion of sick days attributed to mental and behavioral disorders has also climbed substantially. Nearly 21.8% of women’s work absence in 2024 stemmed from mental health issues, compared to just under 19.7% in 2014. Men’s figure rose from 12.4% to almost 15% over the same period. The consequences extend beyond immediate absences, with over 72,000 individuals opting for early retirement in 2024 due to psychological distress, adding further strain to the social security system.
Opposition lawmakers are voicing strong criticism of the government’s apparent inaction. Anne Zerr, a member of the Bundestag for the Left party, condemned the absence of concrete political repercussions despite these alarming trends. She argues that the government is failing to implement meaningful improvements to psychological workplace safety and has called for the introduction of a stringent “Anti-Stress Regulation”. This proposed regulation would mandate specific parameters related to working hours, job responsibilities and the overall work environment, aiming to proactively address the root causes of these escalating mental health concerns and potentially alleviate the mounting costs associated with these work absences. The apparent lack of urgency from the governing body to address this growing crisis raises serious questions about the prioritization of worker well-being and the long-term sustainability of Germany’s workforce.
