Germany announces worker recruitment applications: Which professions stand out?

Germany, with its new immigration law, has expanded the scope of the EU Blue Card regulation—which has been in effect for approximately 11 years and allows foreign nationals or experts with existing master's degrees to come to Germany—as of November 1. In addition to this, job search opportunities will be increased with a new Opportunity Card planned to be implemented. Based on the European Union Directive 2021/1883, the federal government has enacted a new law to attract qualified experts living abroad to Germany, which lowers the minimum income threshold required for professions experiencing labor shortages as regulated by the ordinance.

INCOME THRESHOLDS LOWERED

According to the report in Haber Global, from now on, the minimum income requirement for professions and sectors experiencing labor shortages will be at least 45.3 percent of the annual social security contribution base. In other words, as of 2023, immigrant qualified experts can be employed in a profession where the annual income is below 39,682.80 Euros. The minimum income amount required for professions where qualified personnel are urgently needed will be at least 50 percent of the annual social security contribution base. Based on 2023, this means an annual income of 43,800 Euros.

WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE?

The EU Blue Card program offers attractive opportunities, especially for qualified immigrants at the beginning of their professional careers. For example, foreign academics who start a job in Germany with an annual income of at least 39,682.80 Euros as of 2023 will be able to obtain an EU Blue Card if they have received a master's degree within the last three years. This opportunity applies to both professions where qualified personnel are urgently needed and other general professions. Another innovation introduced with the new Skilled Immigration Act is that information technology experts have also gained the right to obtain an EU Blue Card. In other words, information technology experts will be able to obtain an EU Blue Card if they can prove they have at least three years of similar work experience, even if they do not have a master's degree. Qualified personnel who want to be employed in this way must earn an annual income of at least 39,682.80 Euros as of 2023 in the job they will enter.

WHICH PROFESSIONS DOES IT COVER?

With the Skilled Immigration Act, the list of professions where qualified personnel are urgently needed has been expanded. In addition to sectors experiencing labor shortages in branches such as mathematics, informatics and natural sciences, engineering, and medicine, the new professional groups to be granted an EU Blue Card can be listed as follows:

* Managers in the fields of manufacturing, mining, construction, and logistics

* Managers in the field of information and communication technology

* Managers who will provide services in sectors such as childcare or healthcare

* Veterinarians

* Dentists

* Pharmacists

* Nurses and midwifery specialists with academic-level higher education

* Educators to be employed in the field of school and extracurricular education

News Source: 12punto