What awaits nursing staff in 2025 to 2030? Trends and forecasts.
Artificial intelligence, digital platforms and innovative care concepts are changing everyday nursing faster than many think. In the coming years, there will be changes – with new opportunities, but also exciting challenges. We take a look at the development potential of the nursing sector from 2025 to 2030.
In 2026, nursing stands at a decisive turning point. Technologies such as telemedicine, digital documentation, AI and robotics are transforming everyday work – they relieve pressure, speed up processes and create more time for genuine closeness and care.
At the same time, the figures clearly show how great the pressure to act is:
- +50 percent more people in need of care by 2030 (Care Report 2030)
- around 500,000 missing nursing professionals if nothing changes
- demand is growing faster than new staff can be trained
This means: nursing professionals are more in demand and more important than ever before.
Employers are investing more in continuing education, modern working models and digital support systems.
But within these challenges lies an opportunity as well: for your personal development, greater responsibility and meaningful work that sustainably shapes our society.
In this article, you will learn how to best prepare for the nursing profession of the future:
- Which trends will shape change up to 2030
- Which training and further education programs are particularly in demand
- How to find fulfillment in a profession full of heart and responsibility
The nursing profession of tomorrow offers stability and the opportunity to make a difference every day. Are you ready to become part of this change?
Yes — more than ever. When you look into the future of nursing, you do not see a fading profession, but a field that is becoming increasingly important. Society is aging, needs are becoming more complex, and at the same time the desire for dignity, attention and professional support is growing. While uncertainty prevails in many sectors, in nursing the rule is:
Nothing works without nursing — neither today nor tomorrow. And that is precisely why there is much to suggest that nursing professionals in German-speaking countries will remain among the key specialists of our time in 2026 and beyond.
Reasons why nursing professions have a strong future
Nursing is one of the most future-proof professions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It combines:
- social relevance
- stable job prospects
- true sense of purpose
- many opportunities for specialization and advancement
And: the nursing profession of tomorrow will be more digital, more professional and more self-confident — with you as an important shaper and trusted figure.
Demographic change – we are getting older
By 2030, one in four people in Germany will be over 65 years old.
In Austria as well (and to a slightly lesser extent in Switzerland), the age structure is shifting significantly. More very old people means: more nursing, more care, more professional support.
Skilled labor shortage – nursing professionals are urgently needed
Germany is already short of hundreds of thousands of nursing professionals, and the gap continues to grow. Austria shows a very similar picture, and Switzerland also reports growing shortages.
For you, this means:
- high job security,
- a wide range of choices,
- excellent opportunities for professional development.
Reforms & training – more modern, more flexible, Europe-wide thinking
The generalist nursing training makes nursing professions broader and more attractive:
The result: nursing professionals are becoming more mobile, more competent and more in demand internationally.
Imagine stepping into a care room and seeing not only people, but an entire network of technology, empathy and knowledge: tablets simplify documentation, telemedicine connects residents with specialists, and smart alarm or assistance systems support routine tasks. This future is no longer science fiction — it is everyday reality in many facilities and at the same time opens doors to new, future-proof roles.
Nursing professionals with digital know-how
The nursing profession of tomorrow is digital — not instead of human care, but alongside it. Nursing professionals who not only provide care but also master digital systems (e.g., telemedicine tools, AI-supported documentation, electronic case files) are particularly in demand. They build bridges between people and machines, freeing up time for what truly matters (Health Portal).
Why this has a future: In a more digital nursing world, skills in handling data, apps and digital processes are becoming key qualifications — both in hospitals and in long-term care.
Dementia & geriatric specialists
As life expectancy increases, so does the need for professional expertise in age-related conditions such as dementia. Nursing professionals who specialize in geriatric care and cognitive challenges are indispensable because they not only provide care but also promote quality of life in old age.
Why this has a future: The older society becomes, the more people need specialized care that goes far beyond standards. Many years of experience, empathy and in-depth knowledge are in demand.
Nursing consultants & coordinators
Today, nursing is no longer only about direct care — but also about organization, communication and technology. Nursing consultants guide people through the system, coordinate services, advise relatives and manage digital processes as well as traditional workflows.
Interface talent required: Between patients, families, facilities and healthcare teams, these roles provide the strategic connection that makes care more efficient, safer and more humane (bpb.de).
Nursing informatics specialists & telecare experts
How do you combine IT and nursing? Nursing informatics specialists develop and optimize digital systems, telecare experts connect people across distances — whether through video consultations, remote monitoring or digital communication. These roles are bridge builders between technology and everyday nursing practice (Springer).
Why this has a future: Nursing is increasingly becoming data- and technology-driven. Professionals who understand how to use technology meaningfully, interpret data or organize telemedicine actively shape this transformation.
Nursing touches both people and technology
The nursing professions of tomorrow are multifaceted: they range from classic caregiving to specialized support and digital control and analysis functions. Those who combine skills in care, technology, organization and empathy today not only have security, but real creative power in one of the most important fields of work of our time.
Imagine a sunny morning in 2030: the doors of a modern care facility open, and the day does not begin with paper chaos and stress, but with clarity, technology and real time for people.
By 2030, work in nursing is expected to be less physically demanding, better organized, and more technologically supported than ever before. The future brings:
- More responsibility and decision-making freedom
- More time for interpersonal care
- More digital tools that make the job easier
Because technology is not a replacement for care, but a tool that strengthens, simplifies, and redefines it.
When you think of a typical workday, it is no longer just about care and empathy — it also includes appreciation in the form of fair pay. The strong demand for nursing professionals is reflected not only in job availability but also in salaries, and this trend is likely to intensify further by 2030.
Current situation – What will salaries look like in 2025/26?
- Germany: Nursing professionals currently earn on average around €3,000–€3,800 gross per month, depending on the federal state, institution, and collective agreements. In some regions such as Saarland or Baden-Württemberg, incomes are sometimes slightly higher (personalvermittlung-ausland.de).
- Austria: Here, average salaries are around €3,000–€3,100 gross per month (around €43,000 gross per year), although the range is significant and experience, place of work, and employer make a big difference (Kununu).
- Switzerland: In comparison, income in Switzerland is noticeably higher: nursing professionals usually earn around CHF 5,500–8,000 gross per month (around CHF 84,000 per year on average), with higher amounts for specializations or positions of responsibility (Pflege-Jobs-Schweiz).
These figures show that nursing professionals are in a solid professional position, but there are major differences between countries in the German-speaking region.
Looking ahead: How could salaries develop by 2030?
Increasing collective bargaining coverage & political pressure
Political initiatives and more strongly negotiated collective agreements at company level are already contributing to wage increases. Experts and trade unions assume that salaries could rise overall by around 15 to 20 percent by 2030 – mainly due to stronger collective bargaining coverage and social pressure to make nursing more attractive.
This development would not only be a sign of appreciation, but also a strategic step to retain skilled professionals and attract new ones.
Specialists earn more
As in other professional fields, the same applies in nursing: complexity pays off. You can earn particularly well if you specialize, for example in:
- Intensive care and anesthesia nursing
- Nursing informatics & telemedicine specialty areas
- Leadership and consulting roles
These specializations not only set you apart professionally, but also significantly in terms of salary – often beyond average rates.
Working time models are changing pay
Even though part-time work remains common in nursing (e.g. due to family commitments or work-life balance), more flexible working time models such as a 4-day week, flexitime, or shift systems with higher bonuses are gaining importance. Such models can improve income per period while simultaneously increasing quality of life.
The nursing of tomorrow is like a diverse garden: many paths lead to valuable skills, and every blossom represents an opportunity for responsibility, recognition, and perspective. Even today, exciting paths are opening up for aspiring nurses — from basic training to academic degrees and specialized continuing education that prepares you for the future.
Germany – Versatile, modern, recognized across the EU
In Germany, since 2020 the generalist training program has formed the foundation for all nursing professions: in theory and practice, you learn how to professionally support people in all stages of life and care situations – whether in hospitals, nursing homes, or outpatient settings. The qualification “Pflegefachfrau/-mann” is recognized throughout the EU, giving you high mobility and flexibility.
In addition, there are dual study programs in nursing where you combine academic knowledge with practical experience – perfect if you are aiming for research, management, or specialist tasks (KGNW).
And that is only the beginning: advanced training in areas such as wound management, palliative or intensive care, or nursing education opens doors to specialist and leadership roles that are becoming increasingly important in modern nursing practice.
Austria – Reformed, practice-oriented, growing
In Austria, the training path is also dynamic. With the GuKG amendment from 2025 (Health and Nursing Care Act), expanded competencies are being introduced: nurses, for example, are allowed to take on a greater role in tasks such as prescribing medication and administering infusions – a clear step toward expanded professionalism.
At the same time, the nursing apprenticeship is gaining importance: it offers a practice-oriented entry into the world of nursing and paves the way for further qualifications or direct entry into the profession.
Those who want to advance further can pursue a degree in nursing sciences at a university of applied sciences, which provides a direct path to leadership and specialist roles, for example in elderly care, innovation, or health management (FH Wiener Neustadt).
Switzerland – Academically strong & internationally attractive
In Switzerland, HF and FH programs form the backbone of nursing qualifications: at higher vocational schools (HF) or universities of applied sciences (FH), nursing professionals are trained not only to provide care, but also to independently design and manage the nursing process.
The training typically lasts three years and provides both practical skills and scientific know-how. You can enter through various routes, for example directly after school or after prior qualifications such as FaGe (Health Specialist), (SBK ASI).
This strong academic foundation creates diverse career paths: from patient care to specialist areas such as intensive or obesity care, all the way to leadership and management roles.
Financially, the model is also attractive: in international comparison, nursing in Switzerland is well paid – an advantage that attracts both national and international talent and brings the profession even more into the spotlight (Medi-Karriere).
What does this mean for you?
The nursing sector is like a large, vibrant ecosystem: everywhere, work is being done, improvements are being discussed, and new ideas are being developed so that nurses gain more time, more appreciation, and more room to shape their profession. Policy and reforms are not standing still, but are having a direct impact on everyday nursing practice.
Germany – Rethinking generalist training & making staffing ratios fairer
In Germany, the Nursing Professions Act continues to shape change: the generalist nursing training combines various care fields into a modern qualification that prepares nursing professionals for all age groups and types of care – strengthening permeability within the system and enhancing the qualification nationally and internationally (netzwerk-iq).
Another key project is the PPR 2.0 staffing measurement system – a new system designed to create fair staffing ratios in hospitals and care facilities. It aims to measure the actual need for nursing staff at the patient’s side instead of applying purely flat-rate requirements. This system is a major step toward more quality, safety, and job satisfaction in everyday nursing practice (Pro Pflege).
Austria – Nursing Reform 2025: More competencies, more attractiveness
In Austria, reforms are already underway: with Nursing Reform Packages I–III, numerous measures have been anchored in recent years to strengthen training, working conditions, and career prospects. These include, among other things, better training positions, funding for nursing staff, and improvements for caregiving relatives (Federal Ministry of Labour).
In addition, nursing education is being further modernized and the competencies of nursing professionals expanded – for example through easier recognition of foreign qualifications and expansion of the scope of practice, such as administering certain medical devices and providing wound care.
The aim of policy is to make the nursing profession more attractive and future-proof so that more people choose this career path and remain in it.
Across the EU: Recognition & mobility as a tool for the future
At the European level, a broader field is opening up for nursing professionals: the EU directive on the recognition of professional qualifications makes it possible for nursing degrees to be automatically recognized in other EU countries under certain conditions – with a harmonized minimum standard in education and practical experience (Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion).
Specifically, this means you can be professionally mobile as a nursing professional, work in different EU countries, and apply your skills where they are needed. At the same time, new directives are increasingly facilitating the exchange of professionals from non-EU countries by making recognition procedures more practice-oriented (Internal Market & Industry).
Reforms & Measures at a Glance
The care sector still resembles a bridge that carries people across the challenges of aging, but this bridge is under constant pressure. With every increase in the number of people in need of care, responsibility grows—while skilled professionals remain scarce. Between technological progress, reforms, and social change, however, enormous opportunities are opening up that can sustainably transform day-to-day care.
Opportunities for care professionals
The future holds exciting possibilities. Nursing professionals who develop further, specialize, or use digital tools can shape their working lives, advance, and truly make a difference.
Secure job in a growing market
Demand for qualified nursing professionals continues to rise. Anyone entering nursing today will find not only stability but also long-term prospects, since nursing remains a central pillar of our society.
New specializations & career levels
With specialties such as intensive care, geriatrics, nursing informatics, or telecare, a wide range of career paths is opening up. Those who specialize can take on responsibility, assume leadership roles, or contribute to innovative projects.
Digital relief & more focus on humanity
Technology—from telemedicine and AI-assisted documentation to care-assistance robots—relieves nursing professionals of routine tasks. This creates more time for what no machine can replace: compassion, guidance, and individualized care.
Challenges that will remain
Despite all the opportunities, there are still hurdles that care professionals must overcome. High workloads, competition for talent, and slow reform processes require flexibility, perseverance, and creativity.
High workload despite technology
Even with digital tools, everyday nursing work remains demanding: emotional and physical strain are still part of the profession.
Competitive pressure from other industries
Jobs in IT, management, or industry lure people with higher salaries and faster career development. Nursing professionals must be convinced by working conditions, appreciation, and continuing-education opportunities.
Political implementation of reforms is often slow
New laws, collective agreements, and staffing measurement procedures such as PPR 2.0 in Germany or the 2025 care reform in Austria take time. Delays can affect the skilled labor shortage and working conditions.
Seize opportunities, master challenges
Between 2026 and 2030, care will become more digital, more specialized, and more diverse. At the same time, the strain will remain noticeable. The future of care lies in connecting technology, reforms, and human closeness so that care professionals have more room for what matters most: accompanying people, supporting them, and improving lives.
With innovative services like noracares, care professionals and families can be supported in a targeted way, so that the bridge of care remains stable, resilient, and humane.
The future of the nursing professions offers numerous opportunities—for you and for society. With rising demand for qualified nursing professionals, digitalization, and new specializations, nursing is not only future-proof, but also versatile, fulfilling, and meaningful.
Whether you’re at the beginning of your professional journey or want to reorient your career: nursing offers many ways to apply your skills, take on responsibility, and make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of our society.
Take the opportunity to learn about training and career paths, help shape the sector actively, and take your future in nursing into your own hands.
Find your dream job in nursing—register with noracares now and kick off your career in 2026!
- PPR 2.0 (nursing staffing measurement): A new tool for calculating staffing needs in hospitals. It is intended to ensure that the number of nursing staff matches patients’ actual care effort.
- Generalist training: The merging of the previously separate training programs (elder care, general nursing, and pediatric nursing) into a universal qualification (nursing professional), which has applied in Germany since 2020.
- Telecare / telemedicine: The use of video communication and remote monitoring to provide patients with digital advice or to check vital signs, without having to be physically on site.
- AI-assisted documentation: Software that uses artificial intelligence to create nursing reports via voice input or automated data matching, massively reducing the amount of writing.
- Nursing informatics: A specialty at the interface between IT and nursing. It focuses on how software and technology can improve clinical day-to-day work and care delivery.
- Robotics in nursing: Use of assistive robots (e.g., lifting aids or service robots) that take over physically demanding work or help with logistics (e.g., delivering meals).
- GuKG amendment: A legal change in Austria that modernizes the scope of practice for nursing professionals and transfers more autonomous competencies to them (e.g., wound care).
- Demographic change: The change in the age structure of society. As people live longer and longer, the need for professional long-term care rises massively.
Further sources:
Fraunhofer IAO Digital Business
