Plumbers and Carers Most Skeptical of Working Until Retirement, German Survey Finds
Published on 07/07/2026 at 04:05 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
That stark finding emerges from the latest “DGB-Index Gute Arbeit” (Good Work Index), a large-scale survey conducted by the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) that gathered responses from around 28,000 employees between 2022 and 2026.
While 53 percent of all workers are confident they will reach retirement in their current role, the picture darkens sharply in physically and mentally demanding fields. Across all occupations, 40 percent of employees do not believe they can remain in their jobs until retirement.
The findings underscore the importance of robust workplace safety practices. In the UK, employers have legal duties to protect their staff from the very hazards that drive workers out of their careers. A free Health & Safety Toolkit provides practical templates and checklists to help you comply with regulations and prevent accidents. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit
The trades hit hardest are no surprise to labour advocates. Among installers of sanitation, heating, and plumbing systems, 72 percent see no viable path to a full working life. The figure stands at 71 percent for hospital nurses, 67 percent for geriatric carers, 66 percent for workers in structural engineering, and 57 percent for early childhood educators.
Noise and Time Pressure Are the Key Drivers
The survey pinpoints the main culprits. Heavy physical labour leads to doubt for 72 percent of those exposed to it. Constant noise pushes the share of sceptics to 61 percent, while chronic time pressure drives it to 59 percent.
DGB chairwoman Yasmin Fahimi called the results bitter. “Entire generations are being dragged into retirement sick,” she warned. Better working conditions and a dignified transition out of the workforce are urgently needed, she argued. The Verdi service workers’ union also sounded an alarm, reporting that 44 percent of its members plan to leave their careers prematurely.
Pension Reform Debate Heats Up
The release of the data adds fuel to a contentious political debate. A government-appointed pension commission has presented 33 reform proposals. Options under discussion include linking the retirement age to life expectancy, raising it to as high as 70, introducing a funded capital pillar, and scrapping the popular “pension at 63” early-retirement scheme.
Unions are pushing back forcefully. “Further increases to the retirement age ignore the reality of employees,” Fahimi said. Instead of raising the bar, she insisted, policymakers must prioritise measures that keep people healthy at work.
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