Status: 12/19/2022 09:12 a.m
The head of the Federal Employment Agency also sees the problem with the current shortage of skilled workers in the high number of emigrants. In order to attract more skilled workers, Nahles calls for a new welcoming culture.
The head of the Federal Employment Agency is calling for a new welcoming culture in order to attract more skilled workers from abroad and keep them in Germany. Andrea Nahles told the news portal “t-online”: The “spirit of immigration country” is not yet there in Germany. “It’s not specialists who come to us, but people. And that’s why we need the willingness to not only see them as specialists, but to welcome them as people. Otherwise it won’t succeed.”
The head of the employment agency also pointed out the problem of emigration: around 1.1 million people came to Germany last year alone. “Actually a great number. We could be really proud of it,” said Nahles. “Unfortunately, 750,000 people emigrated at the same time.” According to Nahles, they complained that they were working below their qualifications because their professional qualifications were not recognised. “They would also like to have their family with them, but they are not allowed to come.”
barriers for immigrants
According to Nahles, if Germany were to reduce the number of emigrants, part of the skilled worker problem could be solved. She also criticized the “many hurdles” for immigrants. “It starts with the fact that people have to learn German in their home country. But there aren’t German teachers everywhere. And then those interested have to pay for the course themselves, which some simply can’t afford.” Germany competes with English-speaking countries. English is a language that many learn in school. “And finally, it often takes months to get an appointment at the consulate for a visa.”
Estimates by the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research (IAB) assume that Germany needs net immigration of 400,000 to 500,000 people per year in order to counteract demographic change. The already strained German labor market will lose seven million workers by 2035 – unless vigorous countermeasures are taken.
Baby boomers will soon be retiring
The main reason is that many employees of the so-called baby boomer years will soon be retiring. “The fact that demographic change is coming has been foreseeable for a long time. And it will continue to increase. There are already 1.8 million vacancies today – the shortage of workers and skilled workers has long stretched across all sectors,” said Steffen Kampeter, Managing Director the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA).
With regard to immigration, IAB researcher Enzo Weber pointed out that it is not just about bringing more people to Germany, preferably with good professional qualifications. It is also crucial to prevent the emigration of migrants who are already in the country as far as possible. The emigration rate is currently seven percent. It must be reduced to 5.5 percent in order not to risk negative effects.
Hire older workers
In view of the shortage of skilled workers, Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil had asked companies not to sideline older workers. “The shortage of skilled workers threatens to become a brake on growth. The fact that many companies no longer hire people over 60 is an attitude that we can no longer afford,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag”. It is important to provide age-appropriate jobs in companies. “This is the only way to ensure that the work can really be done before retirement.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously called for an increase in the proportion of those who work until retirement age. There is also “potential for increase” in the proportion of women in the labor market. But all-day offers in crèches, day-care centers and schools would have to be expanded.