Germany’s Over-60s Hit Hardest as Mental Health Sick Days Hit a Record 184 per 100 Insured
Published on 07/24/2026 at 04:52 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A dramatic shift in Germany’s sick-leave patterns has seen mental health conditions overtake respiratory infections as the leading cause of workplace absence for the first time, according to new data from DAK-Gesundheit. The health insurer’s latest report shows a 9 percent jump in days lost to psychological diagnoses during the first six months of 2026, while absences linked to colds and flu fell by 21 percent.
The figures translate to 184 sick days per 100 insured individuals due to mental health issues—a record high. Each episode now lasts an average of 9.7 days. The burden falls disproportionately on employees over 60, whose overall sickness absence rate climbed by 0.3 percentage points. A separate survey found that 60 percent of workers in this age bracket who face health limitations would like to retire early.
These developments come as Germany’s broader labour market cools sharply. The Indeed Arbeitsmarkt Index dropped to 106 points by the end of June 2026, down 3.9 percent from the previous quarter and a full 39 percent below its 2022 peak. Another recruitment platform, index, counted roughly 5.9 million job postings in the first half of 2026—about 4 percent fewer than a year earlier.
Yet healthcare stands as a striking exception. With approximately 920,000 advertised positions, health and nursing professions remain among the most in-demand job categories. Therapy roles grew 3.6 percent, and medical technology saw similar gains. Employers are scrambling for specialists who can safeguard both the physical and mental well-being of their workforces.
In response, human resources departments are elevating strategic health management to a top priority. Experts argue that companies need permanent preventive structures rather than ad-hoc interventions. Partnerships between businesses and universities could provide a scientific foundation for corporate health programmes, says a researcher from the EAH Jena. The key, she stresses, is aligning available resources with employee expectations—with the twin goals of sustaining long-term employability and boosting employer appeal.
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That pressure is most acute in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg, the three states that generated the highest number of job ads in the first half of the year.
Adding another layer of complexity, artificial intelligence is reshaping skill requirements across industries. Market analysts warn that while the digital transformation creates new roles, many job postings remain vague about what those roles actually entail. For health managers, this means an extra task: catching the psychological strain caused by technological upheaval before it deepens the sick-leave crisis.
Managing the psychological strain of technological change requires a solid compliance foundation. A free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit offers nine practical tools, including risk assessments and a director liability guide, to help UK companies stay compliant while protecting their workforce. Get the free Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 Toolkit
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