Sharp increase in fixed-term contracts in the public sector
More and more employment contracts in the public sector are fixed-term, according to a media report. In the past two years, their number has risen by 16 percent, reported the new Berlin editorial company, citing data from the Federal Statistical Office, which was analyzed for a personnel report by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB). Of the almost 3.3 million employees in the public sector, a total of 517,000 had a fixed-term employment contract last year, which was a good 15 percent - and 28 percent more than ten years ago.
New employees are particularly affected: In 2021 alone, around 60 percent of new hires were on fixed-term contracts - according to the report, this figure was only half as many in the private sector. The federal states in particular rely on fixed-term contracts. Around one in three public sector employees there - around 374,000 people - work on fixed-term contracts.
Despite a slight increase in personnel, numerous positions remain unfilled, according to the DGB. "With fixed-term employment contracts and poorly equipped departments, it will become increasingly difficult to attract and retain new and well-trained specialists," criticized Elke Hannack, Deputy Chairwoman of the DGB.
The rise in fixed-term contracts in the public sector has led to an increase in public servants working under such contracts, with over 500,000 individuals having such contracts last year. This trend is particularly prominent among new hires, as approximately 60% of new employees in 2021 were given fixed-term contracts.
The high prevalence of fixed-term contracts in the public sector may negatively impact public service, as Elke Hannack, Deputy Chairwoman of the DGB, criticizes, suggesting that it could make it more challenging to attract and retain well-trained specialists due to unfilled positions and poorly resourced departments.
Source: www.dpa.com
