60,000 professionals are invited to work in Germany to fill 2 million job vacancies
Labor Shortage in Germany
- Germany has introduced draft reforms regarding immigration, skills training, and promoting immigration from countries outside the European Union countries to address labor shortages in Europe’s largest economy.
- According to the Ministry of Labour, the number of job vacancies in 2022 was almost two million, a record high. One of the reforms is a new immigration law to remove obstacles for migrants, particularly those outside the European Union.
New migration policy of Germany
- Finance Minister Christian Lindner said that the law would be the foundation for a new start in migration policy and that anyone who could contribute to the country’s economic success as a skilled worker is welcome.
- As per the new draft law, 60,000 people will be invited from outside EU countries every year to work in Germany.
Pathways offered by the new draft law
The law offers three pathways for foreign workers to enter the country.
- The first one requires a professional or university degree recognized in Germany, and an employment contract.
- The second requires a minimum of two years of experience working in a relevant sector, and a degree or vocational training.
- The third is a new “opportunity card” for individuals who do not have a job offer but have the potential to find work. The opportunity card follows a points-based system that takes into account qualifications, language skills, professional experience, connection to Germany and age.
Education Law
- The cabinet also approved an education law that entitles young people to paid off-the-job training. Germany’s Federal Labor Agency will pay up to 67% of the net salary for the duration of the training.
