Germany desperate for migrant workers to fill open positions

Source: Schengen Visa Info

A new study carried out by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research has shown that the worker shortage in Germany has reached an all-time high level. According to the study, there are currently more than 630,000 job positions that need to be filled, meaning that Germany desperately needs migrant workers to help its economy deal with the ongoing shortage, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

The report issued by the Institute explains that the more qualified the job, the harder it is to find employees for the position. Candidates who have completed higher education are mainly sought after, and the fields of electrical engineering, IT, and construction, among others, are currently the most affected by the shortage. Jobs in social services, health, education, and teaching are also facing a stark worker shortage, with data showing that if this trend continues, Germany will need around 80,000 teachers by the year 2030, according to I Am Expat Germany.

The study emphasizes the need to welcome more migrant workers. The authors argue that if Germany wants to tackle its current labor shortage effectively, the country must start welcoming more migrant workers, calling such a move a must.

Commenting on the matter, the Director of the Federal Employment Agency, Andrea Nahles, said that the increase in job positions where the employee has to make social contributions was almost entirely thanks to migrants from non-EU countries. Nahles further stressed that even if Germany wants to take advantage of its domestic potential, it will be impossible "without further immigration, also for demographic reasons."

To address the worker shortage, Germany has already shared some changes it plans to make to its Skilled Workers Immigration Act. The government plans to undertake additional measures, including scrapping numerous bureaucratic procedures to attract nationals of third countries with professional qualifications. The first change that Germany wants to make to its Skilled Workers Act is to make its Blue Card more easily accessible for a larger number of specialists who hold a university degree. Additionally, the German government also wants to permit citizens of third countries to move for work purposes in their field of expertise without having to undergo formal recognition of their professional qualifications and degree procedures.

Lastly, the German government wants to make it possible for those who want to have their professional qualifications recognized to initiate the process after they arrive in the country, rather than before as it currently is.