In Bavaria, 2,960 doctors are currently registered as unemployed. This number is rising, even though healthcare provision, skills shortages, and a shortage of doctors have been political buzzwords for years. At the same time, the overall need for medical care continues to grow. Nevertheless, unemployment among doctors is increasing faster than employment. This reveals a structural shift in the labor market, raising new questions about the practice of medicine. (br: 17.01.26)
Doctors Between Full Employment and Statistical Unemployment
The number of practicing physicians in Bavaria has risen significantly. Since 2015, it has increased by almost a quarter to nearly 75,000. However, the number of registered unemployed doctors is increasing more than three times as fast. This development seems contradictory because the healthcare system continues to suffer from a shortage of personnel.
A key reason lies in changing employment models. More and more doctors are employed in private practices or medical centers. The proportion is now almost 40 percent. Ten years ago, it was significantly lower. This leads to more frequent periods of job change, which are statistically recorded as unemployment. Even short interruptions are enough to cause physicians to appear in the statistics.
Healthcare is not suffering, but structures are changing
Medical care remains stable. Nevertheless, the framework is shifting. Those who change jobs today more frequently go through transition periods. This development particularly affects young doctors and specialists. At the same time, the number of traditional private practices is declining.
Furthermore, the concentration in urban areas is increasing. More doctors are registering as unemployed in large cities, while rural regions continue to report acute shortages. This exacerbates the regional doctor shortage, even though there is statistically sufficient medical personnel available.
Recognition processes are hindering international professionals
Another factor concerns foreign doctors. Their number has doubled nationwide within a decade to over 68,000. These professionals are a sustainable strengthening of the healthcare system. However, recognition procedures often take many months. During this time, doctors are considered unemployed, even though they are in fact ready to work.
These delays further distort the statistics. At the same time, the pressure is increasing on hospitals that urgently need qualified staff. While medical care benefits in the long term, formal hurdles arise in the short term.
Skilled worker shortage remains a reality despite rising numbers
The Federal Employment Agency continues to report a pronounced shortage of skilled workers in human medicine. The unemployment rate among physicians nationwide is around 2.5 percent. This effectively corresponds to full employment. Nevertheless, the trend shows that job profiles, expectations, and work models are changing.
Many physicians are specifically seeking better working hours, clear structures, and predictable career paths. At the same time, numerous positions do not offer precisely these conditions. This creates a growing gap between supply and demand, even though the official shortage of physicians persists.
In the long term, the sheer number of physicians will not determine the stability of healthcare. Flexible structures, faster qualification recognition, and realistic working conditions are crucial. Only then can rising unemployment and the existing skilled worker shortage be addressed simultaneously.