According to the analysis, only 53% of respondents believe they will be able to work without any problems until the statutory retirement age. The rest either have doubts about this or are certain they will not be able to continue working due to high physical or psychological stress, DW notes.
The study is based on a survey of nearly 28,000 German residents conducted between 2022 and 2026. Those in high-stress professions are the most pessimistic about their prospects. For example, 72% of plumbing, heating, and water supply specialists, 71% of junior medical staff, 66% of construction workers, and 57% of preschool teachers stated that they would be unable to work until retirement.
The authors note that workers’ expectations are influenced by long workdays, heavy physical strain, inflexible schedules, and employers’ insufficient attention to occupational health and safety issues.
DGB Chair Yasmin Fahimi called on the authorities to take these findings into account when discussing pension reform. According to her, raising the retirement age without improving working conditions does not reflect the reality of the labor market. Instead, Fahimi believes it is necessary to create conditions that allow people to maintain their health and retire with dignity.
It should be noted that the debate over the future of the pension system remains one of the key issues in Germany amid an aging population and a growing labor shortage. The government is discussing various measures to ensure the financial sustainability of the pension system, including raising the retirement age.
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