Germany's night shift workforce hits 4 million in 2024—who's working overnight?
Nearly 4.0 million people in Germany worked night shifts in 2024. This represents 9.3% of the country's total workforce. Some industries relied far more on overnight staff than others.
The aviation sector had the highest share of night workers, with 42.6% of its employees on overnight schedules. Security services and detective agencies followed closely at 40.2%. Metal production and processing also saw a significant proportion, with 31.1% of workers taking night shifts.
Other sectors with above-average rates included warehousing and transport services (18.6%) and healthcare (17.6%). Hospitality, while lower, still exceeded the national average at 13.9%. Night work was more common among younger employees, with 10.6% of those aged 34 and under working overnight. Mid-career staff, aged 35 to 54, accounted for 9.6%. Men were also more likely to work nights (11.7%) compared to women (6.5%).
The data highlights how certain industries depend heavily on night shifts to operate. Aviation, security, and metal production stand out for their high overnight employment. Younger workers and men were the most likely to take on these schedules.
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