In October 2024, the German Bundestag passed a new law aimed at improving daycare services, allocating around two billion euros annually to increase staffing levels, especially in West Germany, starting January 1, 2025.

The Institute of the German Economy (IW) estimates that a total of 1.154 million childcare places are needed for children under three this year, with over 848,000 currently occupied, creating a significant gap.

A recent analysis reveals that Germany is short 306,000 daycare spots for children under three years old, affecting 13.6% of children in this age group.

The study highlights a significant disparity in daycare availability between East and West Germany, with West Germany facing a shortage of 277,900 spots compared to just 28,200 in East Germany.

The IW study indicates that while early education personnel needs are largely met in Eastern Germany, critical staff shortages persist in the West, with projections of these shortages continuing until 2035.

Despite a decrease of 38,200 spots compared to the previous year, the situation remains critical as the demand for daycare slots is expected to increase.

Alex Liefermann, a father of two, has been advocating for improvements in the daycare situation in Germany for two years, organizing demonstrations and confronting politicians about the lack of staff and closures due to personnel shortages.

Liefermann reports that his family's financial situation is strained as he has had to decline freelance work due to changes in daycare availability.

A recent amendment to the Kita Quality Law aims to enhance childcare quality, with the federal government providing nearly four billion euros to states over the next two years to recruit and retain staff.

The study emphasizes the urgent need for faster expansion of daycare services in West Germany, where demand is expected to continue rising.

Hannah, a pseudonymous childhood educator, emphasizes the need for better salaries and structural changes in daycare settings to address ongoing issues.

Experts predict that a decline in birth rates will lead to fewer children in the coming years, necessitating a reduction in daycare infrastructure in East Germany.