Temporary Staffing or International Nurses? Why Sustainable Workforce Strategies Matter More Than Ever

In 2020, according to the German Medical Journal (Deutsches Ärzteblatt), more than 400,000 healthcare workers in Germany were employed through temporary staffing agencies. This number shows just how great the need was, and still is, to quickly find qualified staff. Even though the pandemic has since eased, the pressure remains: the shortage of skilled nurses is still acute.

To cover staff shortages, many healthcare facilities turn to temporary workers. The reason is clear: the fewer nurses available, the fewer beds can be filled, which directly leads to revenue losses. At the same time, the workload for permanent staff increases, causing more sick leave, resignations, and demotivation.

At first glance, temporary staffing may seem like a quick and flexible fix. But what provides short-term relief creates new long-term problems: dependency on external providers, high costs, and constant staff turnover.

In this article, we explain why international nurses and trainees (apprentices) are a more sustainable solution, both economically and from a human perspective. Because in the long run, unfilled positions cost more than any investment in strategic, sustainable recruitment.

Temporary Staffing vs. International Recruitment: The Key Difference

Temporary staffing and international recruitment follow very different approaches, and have very different outcomes. While temporary staffing is a short-term, reactive response to immediate shortages, international recruitment is a long-term, strategic solution. It doesn’t just treat the symptoms of the nursing shortage, it actually addresses the root causes.

Temporary staffing focuses on quick availability. International recruitment, on the other hand, is about sustainable staffing, integration, retention, and professional development. This doesn’t just bridge short gaps, it strengthens the healthcare system structurally.

Temporary Staffing (Leiharbeit / Arbeitnehmerüberlassung)

Many facilities use temporary staffing as a quick fix, often out of necessity. But the supposed flexibility comes with hidden downsides:

• High overall costs: Temporary workers cost far more than permanent staff. While short-term coverage may be important, in the long run these expenses add up to significant extra costs.
• Low emotional connection: Temporary staff are only on-site for limited periods and rarely develop loyalty to the facility, the team, or the patients/residents.
• Lack of training and knowledge continuity: Constant turnover makes it impossible to build up reliable know-how or training structures.
• Limited planning security: Short-term contracts mean constant recruitment and onboarding – an endless, time-consuming cycle without lasting benefits.
• Unequal distribution of shifts: Temporary staff often get first choice of “preferred shifts,” leaving permanent employees with less desirable ones.
• Dependence on external providers: Facilities become reliant on agencies instead of building their own long-term workforce strategy.

In short: temporary staffing treats the symptoms, not the causes, of the nursing shortage.

International Nurses & Trainees

International nurses and trainees are not a short-term stopgap, they are an investment in the future of the team.

• Long-term perspective: International nurses come to stay. They build their lives in Germany, looking for stable jobs and career development.
• Economic sustainability: Initial investments in language and integration programs pay off, as long-term costs are far lower than ongoing temporary staffing.
• Stability & team integration: Permanent employment fosters belonging, loyalty, and motivation, directly improving workplace culture.
• Planning security: Long-term contracts provide reliability and support strategic workforce planning.

In short: international recruitment requires upfront investment, but pays off many times over through stability, continuity, and loyalty.

Investing in International Nurses as a Sustainable Workforce Strategy

The shortage of skilled nurses in Germany hasn’t improved in recent years. This makes it all the more important not just to provide short-term relief, but to build teams strategically for the future. A sustainable workforce strategy means setting the right course today for tomorrow.

International nurses bring more than professional skills. They also contribute social and cultural strengths. Their diverse backgrounds enrich teams, foster resilience and creativity, and strengthen an open workplace culture. Choosing to start a career or training in a new country also shows strong motivation and perseverance.

With targeted language and integration programs, international nurses can be smoothly integrated into teams, creating not just professional, but also personal bonds. Those who build a new life in Germany are usually more committed and less likely to leave.

Sustainability in this context isn’t only about ecology, it’s about building stable structures in healthcare: structures that retain staff and ensure high-quality care.

Our Conclusion: Less Dependency, More Reliability

Temporary staffing may help in the short term, but it doesn’t solve the underlying problems. High costs, low commitment, and constant turnover weaken healthcare facilities over time.

International nurses and trainees, on the other hand, are an investment in stability, motivation, and long-term success. Those who invest today in integration and sustainable development reduce dependency on temporary staffing and build reliable structures for the future.

International nurses and trainees are not a last resort. They are a central part of the future of healthcare in Germany.

For facilities aiming for a long-term, sustainable workforce strategy, now is the right time to take the step into international recruitment. Contact us at service@cwc-recruitment.com and let our expert team support you professionally.