The German government wants to make it easier for people from third countries to work in Germany. To this end, it wants to introduce a new points system for skilled labor immigration.
In order to reduce the shortage of skilled workers, the Federal Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of the Interior want to ease the entry requirements for talented people from abroad. One part of the strategy is the so-called opportunity card. It is a new form of residence permit for people from third countries who do not yet have a work contract in Germany. While the opportunity card has so far only been a rough idea, the ministries now have a draft law that explains the planned concept in detail.
According to media reports, anyone who meets certain criteria and receives at least six points based on these criteria will receive an opportunity card. However, to be considered for the opportunity card, the applicant or candidate must also have at least two years of professional qualification or a university degree. He or she must also be able to support himself or herself in Germany.
Opportunity map: The new points system
If these two prerequisites are met, criteria such as work experience, German language skills, age and vocational qualification play a role in awarding points:
Four points: If the applicant has a vocational qualification that is immediately at least partially recognizable in Germany under local law, he or she already receives four points. This is also the case, for example, if subsequent qualifications are still required for recognition of the vocational qualification.
Three points: Three points are awarded if there is at least three years of professional experience.
Two points: Applicants who have German language skills at the B2 level receive two points. This also applies to people who are younger than 35.
One point: One point is given to those who know German at the B1 level and to those who are 39 years old and younger. Applicants who have lived legally in Germany for at least six months in the past five years also receive one point. The same applies to people who have a “godfather” or “godmother” in the Federal Republic who supports them on their way to work. It is not yet known what criteria the godparents must fulfill.
Working time with opportunity card is limited
Those who have collected at least six points receive the opportunity card and can stay in Germany for one year to find a job. With a recognized degree, interested persons receive the opportunity card directly. However, cardholders cannot work full-time.
“The opportunity card only entitles the holder to work a total of up to 20 hours per week, as well as for up to two weeks each of trial employment for an unlimited period of time,” according to media reports in the draft law. In other words, talent from abroad would be allowed to work only 20 hours per week with the opportunity card, or work an unlimited number of hours each week for up to two weeks as part of a trial period. According to the representatives of the ministries, those who find a regular full-time job have the prospect of a suitable longer-term residence permit.
What the new strategy should achieve
The opportunity map is intended to attract more talent to Germany from abroad – people who are urgently needed due to demographic change. According to the German Federal Employment Agency, around 400,000 skilled workers need to enter Germany from abroad and take up a job here every year in order to fill the shortage of skilled workers. The Federal Republic is currently still a long way from achieving this goal.
As the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Skilled Migration Monitor shows, around 40,400 people from third countries came to Germany in 2021 to pursue a job in the Federal Republic. Within the EU states, around 468,000 people came to Germany in 2021. In terms of numbers, this would close the gap to the tune of 400,000 skilled workers, but how many of these are in the Federal Republic for work is unclear.
With the introduction of the opportunity card and the simultaneous expansion of the existing Western Balkans regulation – no longer 25,000 but 50,000 unskilled workers from the Balkans will be allowed to come to Germany with a job promise – around 65,000 more people from third countries are expected to enter the Federal Republic for work each year. The opportunity card is the second of three pillars with which the federal government wants to counteract the shortage of skilled workers.
Source: Personalwirtschaft.de – 09.01.2023 – Personalwirtschaft.de
Which professionals are welcome in germany?
Germany welcomes professionals with a wide range of skills and qualifications, particularly in fields where there are shortages of skilled workers. Some examples of professions that are in high demand in Germany include:
- Engineers: There is a shortage of engineers in Germany, particularly in the fields of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
- IT Specialists: Germany is home to a thriving technology sector and there is a high demand for IT specialists with expertise in areas such as cybersecurity, software development, and data analysis.
- Healthcare Professionals: Germany has an aging population and there is a growing need for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and medical researchers.
- Skilled Tradespeople: There is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in Germany, particularly in fields such as construction, plumbing, and electrical work.
- Scientists: Germany is home to a large number of research institutions and there is a high demand for scientists in fields such as biotechnology, chemistry, and physics.
- Teachers: Germany has a strong education system and there is a demand for teachers in a variety of subjects, particularly in the STEM fields.
Overall, Germany welcomes professionals from a wide range of fields, particularly those with skills and qualifications that are in high demand in the German economy.
Why they are so welcome and what Germany is doing to make their migration easier.
Germany welcomes professionals in various fields because they can contribute to the country’s economic growth and development. Germany has a strong economy and needs highly skilled workers to maintain its competitiveness in the global marketplace.
In addition, demographic shifts such as an aging population have created a need for skilled workers in areas such as healthcare and social services.
To make migration easier for professionals, Germany has implemented several policies and initiatives. These include:
- Jobseeker Visa: Non-EU citizens who have a university degree and can demonstrate that they have enough financial means to support themselves can apply for a six-month jobseeker visa to look for work in Germany.
- Blue Card: Highly skilled professionals from non-EU countries can apply for a Blue Card, which allows them to live and work in Germany for up to four years. The Blue Card is intended to attract highly skilled workers in fields such as IT, engineering, and healthcare.
- Recognition of Foreign Qualifications: Germany has established procedures to recognize foreign qualifications in a variety of fields. This can make it easier for professionals to find work in their chosen field in Germany.
- Integration Programs: Germany has established integration programs to help new immigrants learn German, navigate the job market, and adapt to life in Germany.
- Fast-track Programs: Some industries have fast-track programs that enable highly skilled workers to obtain a work permit more quickly than other applicants.
Overall, Germany recognizes the value that highly skilled professionals can bring to its economy and has implemented policies and programs to make it easier for them to migrate and work in the country.