Germany Needs Doctors: Why Residents Have Excellent Career Opportunities

Germany urgently needs doctors — especially residents (Assistenzärzt:innen). Although more than 437,000 physicians are currently practising, the medical workforce is ageing rapidly. Over 23% of doctors are older than 60, and tens of thousands will retire in the coming years. This creates a unique window of opportunity for young doctors from Germany and abroad.

Specialties with the Highest Demand

Not all fields are affected equally. The strongest need exists in:

• General Practice & Internal Medicine – Primary care faces a significant shortage, especially in rural areas.

• Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopaedics/Trauma Surgery – Driven by chronic and age-related diseases.

• Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Paediatrics – Rising mental health needs and complex paediatric care increase demand.

• Anaesthesiology, Radiology & Emergency Medicine – Many hospitals struggle to fill resident posts.

For residents, this means broad opportunities, excellent job security, and a wide choice of training paths.

Regional Outlook: Where Doctors Are Needed Most

Germany’s physician distribution is uneven:

• Urban areas often have more doctors than they need.

• Rural and structurally weaker regions — especially in Brandenburg, Saarland, Thuringia, and parts of Baden-Württemberg or North Rhine-Westphalia — face significant shortages.

Medical care centres (MVZ) with employed doctors are on the rise, offering attractive employment models for residents who prefer not to run a private practice.

Salaries and Working Conditions

Residents in Germany benefit from strong collective agreements. Typical entry salaries (TV-Ärzte/VKA) range around:

• €5,500 per month at the start

• Up to €7,000 per month in later stages of residency

On-call duties and night/weekend shifts add significant earnings. Germany’s salaries compare well internationally, and residents enjoy strong job security plus social benefits such as pension schemes and paid leave.

Workload remains high: average weekly hours are around 49, and bureaucracy takes up considerable time. Still, reforms, digitalisation, and staffing improvements are gradually easing the pressure.

Why Germany Is an Ideal Place for Medical Training

Germany offers:

• High clinical standards and modern hospitals

• Structured specialty training with clear regulations

• A stable, publicly funded healthcare system

• Excellent long-term career prospects

• A strong community of international doctors (≈15% of the workforce)

Recognition processes for foreign medical degrees have improved significantly, making Germany more accessible than ever for international talent.

Looking to Start or Continue Your Medical Career in Germany?

Germany needs committed doctors — and now is one of the best times to build a successful medical career here. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a resident looking for the right specialty, or an international doctor seeking recognition and opportunities, the German healthcare system offers strong prospects and long-term stability.

CareMP2.de is here to help: We support you with career planning, finding the right training position, and navigating application or recognition procedures.

Get in touch with CareMP2 personally — let’s shape your medical future in Germany together.