• Germany edition
Politics
Photo: DPA

Skilled migrants urgently needed, says minister

Published: 30 Jul 10 08:33 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20100730-28839.html

With Germany industry facing a looming skills shortage, Economy Minister Rainer Brüderle revealed on Friday he was planning a major recruitment drive to attract skilled migrants.

That included encouraging German firms to pay cash incentives to lure foreign workers, he told daily Handelsblatt.

“The question of how Germany becomes lastingly attractive to skilled migrants is right at the top of my agenda,” he said.

Part of the plan encourages payment of Begrüßungsgeld or “welcome money” for guest workers.

“It is conceivable that some businesses who can afford it and have an urgent need, pay skilled foreign workers an incentive,” he said.

He ruled out, however, using taxpayers’ money to subsidise skilled migrants to relocated to Germany.

Economists agree that Germany’s export-driven economy, which relies heavily on skilled workers such as engineers to develop its high-end manufactured goods to sell overseas, will be gradually eroded in years to come by a dearth of such qualified professionals.

“The skills shortage, and not unemployment, will in the coming years be the key problem for the German job market,” Brüderle said.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

10:10 July 30, 2010 by auniquecorn
Skilled migrants urgently needed, says minister,

The German Industry is taking the same route as the German Fussball league, Searching for skill.
10:29 July 30, 2010 by scout1067
Didn't the Germans do this once before in a big way back in the 50's?
13:56 July 30, 2010 by freechoice
one of the main obstacles to attract skilled professionals and making them stay here comfortably is the German language. Companies should provide every employees free German lessons up to the point they could read documents fluently. Otherwise people would just choose to go to US.

Germany is definitely much better than US for kids to grow up and for employees to work. Speaking from experience.
14:52 July 30, 2010 by JohnnesKönig
And yesterdays story was, 'Job miracle' stalls as unemployment rises in Germany...
15:25 July 30, 2010 by frankiep
Hell, I'm a skilled and educated migrant who has been sending out job applications for many months now and cannot even get a single interview. It sure looks to me like the only foreigners companies here even consider are those who are either unskilled and can be little, or those who have lived here long enough that they don't sound much like a foreigner when they speak. Germany may need skilled migrants, but the attitudes of most companies towards them does nothing to remedy that.
17:36 July 30, 2010 by William Thirteen
i gots numchuk skillz, where's my cash?

i arrived on these fair shores back in 2004 and it took me seven months to find a job. amusingly enough after a long fruitless search through germany's dark winter i ended up getting three offers in the same week - so hang in there frankiep!
18:04 July 30, 2010 by NYsteve
After reading some past articles on how some non-Germans are treated......I hope the new people recruited from areas outside of Germany are treated well.....especially since they are being ASKED to work in Germany.....I am not picking on Germany as this same problem exists here in the US........just want people to remember that "You can't have your cake and eat it too" as a side note...if any company in Germany needs a very experienced AutoCAD drafter/designer....and is willing to pay re-location costs to Germany....I'll go in a heartbeat!!!
20:19 July 30, 2010 by auslanderus
Why are there not people being trained here to fill these positions for skilled labor? When you have so many unemployed, why not train them to fill jobs instead of bringing people in?
20:50 July 30, 2010 by nightwish
I totally agree with you auslanderus.We have exactly the same problem in Britain,millions of unemployed yet the government still bring in thousands from abroad.
21:45 July 30, 2010 by canderson
Before Germany imports more immigrants, I think they should first consider training or retraining their unemployed citizens and returning them to the work force.
21:57 July 30, 2010 by ReaderX
Well it's actually cheaper to "import" the workers. Consider that they are already going to be trained. So training won't cost the Government. The immigrant workers will just need a place to live. Many who come out of poorer nations will be happy to move up as it were when coming to Germany, so what a German or otherwise might consider a horrible flat would be paradise to someone else. Further this housing won't cost the Government either. Since it will be paid by the future employer. Where-as on the other hand the Government has to house and train it's own nationals. Harz iv and the GIAG etc.

So in the long run a bit of Begrüßungsgeld isn't that much compared to a few years of harz iv and some Job training.
22:13 July 30, 2010 by DavidtheNorseman
ReaderX is right as to the reasoning, but I still see it as shortsighted. They do it here in Canada as well which is just insane as we have loads of underemployed and talented young people looking for decent and fulfilling work. Don't make the same mistakes we have and for goodness sake offer German youth the apprenticeship programs necessary. For more advanced positions such as Engineers offer upgrade programs to the people you already have who are underemployed (eg people who have Engineering papers who are sweeping streets etc) and guaranteed positions for new University entrants and you'll have it covered in no time....
22:46 July 30, 2010 by janreg58
Where do I apply?
09:16 July 31, 2010 by notelove2
I think there are a lot of people now unemployed here who have the skills to work and who want to work. Use them first
09:53 July 31, 2010 by garyh911
My wife and I just moved to Meissen, Germany where my wife who was offered a job here. I have a chemical engineering degree from the US and I would like to start looking for a job but we have gotten the runaround from the officials. I can#t get a residence card until I take german language lessons and without the card I can't get a job. So much for encouraging immigrants and assist with getting jobs.

Gary H
21:04 July 31, 2010 by Logic Guy
Well, I find it amazing in how humans struggle to understand even the most basic things.

Look at Greece. During acient times, the majority the the wrold's intellectuals were from that country and yet here to today, Greece is one of the most discfunctional.

Why can't humans learn even the simple things? Life here on earth is all about living efficiently and conservatively.

Every concept that opposes this equation has proven to be a

failure.
23:17 July 31, 2010 by mobiusro
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100731-28859.html - that's why they need the skilled immgrants. To earn more money, thus pay more taxes, so that the % of germans that lazy around all day can have a more comfortable life. :)
20:06 August 1, 2010 by slawek
@auslanderus Simply put, German schools aren't capable to provide what the industry needs.

See what Brüderle said:

¦quot;The skills shortage, and not unemployment, will in the coming years be the key problem ...¦quot;

It doesn't mean he did find the cure for unemployment.

Basically he admits there is no feasible course of education for the unemployed, who certainly could fill in. It's a widely accepted waste of human resources. It would be considered a horror, if unemployed were allowed to study, etc.

There was however a Green Card program for IT professionals from India. About the same time when 30 000 professionals came to Germany from India, there were already 30 000 unemployed IT professionals listed.
22:00 August 1, 2010 by JohnnesKönig
Maybe if apprenticeship were available there would not be a shortage. Instead anyone seeking a job in these areas must pay up front for the schooling. If I were going to school, I would want the best paying job I could get.
17:09 August 5, 2010 by recherche
You would think an advanced, civilised country would manage it's affairs more efficiently, wouldn't you? Bringing in hordes of opportunistic migrants with a 3 month horizon is a stop-gap, short-term measure and is not a sustainable way of maintaining progress, or indeed of retaining what we have. The disruption to the cultural fabric of a country, built over centuries, will negate the putative attractions of such measures. The basic thing about humans is that their prosperity is related to a strong commonality of purpose. There are those who aggressively seek to destroy that in Europe.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
'The Jewish Candidate'
Photo: David Crossland

'Germany is indifferent to neo-Nazi violence'

It's an intriguing premise: Are Germans ready to elect a Jewish politician chancellor? British journalist David Crossland has written a novel exploring themes of racism and neo-Nazi violence in Germany. The Local has excerpts. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Fan wants Bayern ticket-Oktoberfest beer swap

A Bayern Munich supporter is so desperate to get his hands on a ticket for Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund he is offering to trade 20 litres of beer and a rare free table at Oktoberfest. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Nationwide cannabis limit rolls nearer

Germany could in the future have a country-wide “tolerable limit” for cannabis possession, it was reported on Friday. Currently, this amount differs between states. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Job centre Facebook spying 'is illegal'

Job centres searching for photos of “ill” people at wild parties or statuses by “broke” people boasting about their new cars were warned on Friday it was illegal to use Facebook to spy on people suspected of abusing the benefits system. READ () »

Last year's annual meeting. Photo: DPA

Fraternities mull 'Aryan purity' test for members

Germany's oldest fraternity association could change its membership rules to include only ethnic Germans at their annual meeting this weekend, the country's media reported on Friday. READ () »

My Germany
Photo: Private

'Herrenberg is a colourful, cultural gem'

Get The Local flavour of Germany with our series offering an insider's take on their hometown. This week, Marcy Jarvis talks about her adopted town, Herrenberg. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Immigrants 'more skilled' than many Germans

Nearly half of all immigrants arriving in Germany are more highly skilled than their host country's residents, a study released on Friday revealed. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Cardinal: Women should stay at home and breed

A leading German Catholic cardinal says the government should encourage women to stay at home and breed - rather than bring immigrants into the country to solve its demographic problems. READ () »

More Politics
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The country's most revered and reviled composer, Richard Wagner is our German of the week in time for his 200th birthday.
Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: M&S Photo: Private Photo: Katie Needs Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: A Peoples' Picture Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Monster/jobpilot.de Furniture Leasing Corporation Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se



Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

903 jobs available
657 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
  • So You Want to Be an Artist
    The tradition of hands-on training in the arts is alive and well in Germany. Interested in studying visual, performance, or sound arts? Keen to pursue graphic and product design, textiles, or typography? Germany is home to many exceptional art schools as well as a rich history of excellence in and support for the arts.
  • Frankfurt's Skyscrapers: A Guide
    Frankfurt is known for banks and skyscrapers. So what is behind the colossal glass, steel, and stone facades of the city’s buildings? Meet Frankfurt’s tallest.
  • Conference - Pioneers on Dual Training Abroad
    Germany‘s system of dual training is one of the foundations of its economic strength.
  • The all-German final in Wembley
    Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund are playing in the final of the Champions League at London’s Wembley Stadium.
  • German first feature film in Cannes
    A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.