Researchers said they have noticed a particularly sharp downward trend in eastern Germany. A new report estimates almost 80,000 fewer children were born in 2022 and 2023 than would have been expected.

The Ifo Institute for Economic Research said in a new report released Wednesday that Germany is seeing a sharp decline in birth rates, with federal states in the east of the country the most affected.

Researchers at the leading economic think tank cited a number of reasons behind the declining birth rate, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Additionally, high inflation has prompted “young families to put off having children for the time being,” said Ifo researcher Joachim Ragnitz.

  • @[email protected]
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    14 hours ago

    No, there are not enough people. You can’t find enough people to stock shelves, that is an extremely unqualified job, it takes about 15min of training to do it.

    • @LouNeko
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      22 hours ago

      A shortage of unskilled labor is almost unheard of, especially on a large scale. Local businesses having trouble to stock their shelves is a sign of a failing business rather than a unskilled worker shortage.

    • Mad_Punda
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      23 hours ago

      Maybe there’s too many shelves? I’m only half joking.