The public sector is running out of employees: over the next ten years, the Association of Cities expects a workforce reduction of around 30 percent. As a result, some legal claims and benefits would have to be suspended or even revoked, the association warns.

According to the Association of Towns and Municipalities, German municipalities are threatened with a massive shortage of staff in the next few years. "In the next ten years, 573,890 public sector employees will leave the local authorities. That corresponds to around 30 percent of the workforce," said the association's general manager, Gerd Landsberg, of the "Bild" newspaper. Even with advertising and bonus programs, this gap cannot be closed. There just aren't enough offspring.

The municipalities would therefore have to cut some services in the medium term, said Landsberg. "Some regulations and benefits as well as legal claims must be suspended or, if necessary, revoked." As an example, he cited the legal entitlement to all-day care in elementary school. This will not be implemented across the board.

"The more than 100,000 educators required do not exist and they cannot be hired at short notice," said Landsberg, adding: "Quite apart from the financial and spatial challenges." The head of the association emphasized that there must also be more standard services in municipal matters instead of individual case support. In addition, the range of digital services in the authorities must increase.