Boosting the upper age limit intends to draw in experienced professionals
In Baden-Württemberg, Germany, the mandatory retirement age for civil service appointments stands at 67 years, aligning with the general pension age set by Section 51 of the Bundesbeamtengesetz (BBG), the federal civil service law. As of 2025, there is no indication of plans to increase this age limit [1].
This retirement age is consistent across German federal states, including Baden-Württemberg. However, each federal state determines its own upper age limit for civil service appointments, with figures ranging from 40 to 52 years.
The Baden-Württemberg Civil Service Association's chairman, Kai Rosenberger, states that they see no reason to change or raise the current age limit of 42 years for civil service appointments in Baden-Württemberg. On the other hand, Maren Diebel-Ebers, deputy chairwoman of the DGB Baden-Württemberg, considers raising the age limit to be a sensible measure.
Meanwhile, Verdi, a trade union, advocates for civil service appointments to be based on Article 33, Paragraph 4 of the Basic Law, which allows for age limits to be set based on the requirements of the position. They argue that potential disadvantages in minimum provision can be acceptable in view of the advantage of attracting and retaining specialist staff.
The principle of lifelong employment is a well-established principle of the civil service in Germany. However, the civil service reform of 2010 in Baden-Württemberg introduced the separation of pension systems. This separation means that respective service times in the employee or civil service system are paid out in the respective system in retirement/pension. As a result, a subsequent insurance in the German pension insurance system would no longer have a negative financial impact for civil servants who change to the private sector.
Recently, the Greens wanted to enforce the age limit as early as this week, but the plan was removed from the cabinet's agenda. The CDU suggests that the reform could be tackled immediately after the next election. The BBW's stance on the age limit is based on the rulings of the Federal Constitutional Court, which requires attention to the ratio between active service time and passive pension time for civil servants.
The BBW could potentially agree to a moderate increase of three years, which would place them in the middle range of the federal states. This increase, if agreed upon, would still meet the requirements according to the BBW.
In conclusion, while the retirement age for civil service appointments in Baden-Württemberg remains at 67 years, discussions about raising the age limit continue. The BBW's stance on the age limit is based on the Federal Constitutional Court's rulings, and any changes would need to consider the ratio between active service time and passive pension time for civil servants.
[1] Latest sources up to August 2025.
- The Baden-Württemberg Civil Service Association voiced no intention to change the current age limit of 42 years for civil service appointments, a stance that aligns with the economic and social policy in Baden-Württemberg.
- Verdi, a trade union, supports basing civil service appointments on Article 33, Paragraph 4 of the Basic Law, a proposal that links the issue to general-news discussions about the balance between the requirements of positions and the recruitment and retention of specialist staff in the realm of politics and finance.
