Skilled Migration: Challenges and Solutions

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1 Skilled Migration: Challenges and Solutions IQ Symposium on Labour Market Integration of Immigrants: Challenges, Perspectives, Opportunities, 6 April 2016 Ralf Maier Head of Division Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany

2 Germany: Country of Immigration Germany is one of the main immigration countries in the OECD. The number of immigrants coming to Germany has been rising steadily. There was a clear shift towards non-eu nationals entering in Foreign nationals immigrating to GER (stay of >90 days) (Jan Sept) 884,493 1,149,045 1,228,470 EU nationals 59% 54.8 % 44.2% Non-EU nationals 41% 45.2 % 55.8% But migration for employment from outside the EU/EFTA remains low. Source: OECD International Migration Outlook 2015; OECD Recruiting Immigrant Workers: Germany 2013; BAMF Wanderungsmonitoring 2014 &

3 Inflow of Third Country Nationals, Jan Sept (according to purpose of residence) university studies 5,10% education 1,30% employment 4,40% other (incl. those who have applied for a residence title but not yet received one) 39,90% family reasons 8,30% permission to reside [Aufenthaltsgestattung] 27,40% settlement permit 0,60% EU right of residence 1,20% humanitarian reasons 6,20% temporary suspension of deportation [Duldung] 5,50% Source: BAMF Wanderungsmonitoring 2015, total number: 686,098 3

4 Migration & Recognition: Third Country Nationals EU Blue Card for Academics 4-year temporary permit, possible settlement permit after 33/21 months requires a university degree recognized in Germany or comparable with a German degree min. annual salary of 47,600 or in a shortage occupation 37,128 Specialists with completed VET residence permit for the purpose of employment requires a workplace or binding offer in Germany and a degree recognized as equivalent degree must be in a shortage occupation New Residence Status for Bridging Programs residence status for up to 18 months if a bridging program is required for recognition can work an additional 10 hours a week in an unrelated field after recognition, one year for search of employment 4

5 Recognition of Professional Qualifications Over 44,000 applications for the recognition of foreign credentials under federal law were submitted in the first three years ( ) ,5% 22,1% ,2% ,5% ,9% 79,8% non-regulated professions regulated professions In 2014, 61.7 % of applicants held a nationality from the EU/EEA or Switzerland. 54.8% received their education in those countries. Source: Federal Statistical Office; calculations by the BIBB. 5

6 Blue Card: Great Majority Issued by Germany 2014: 87% of all Blue Cards awarded in the EU were issued by Germany Luxemburg 262 Romania 190 Italy 165 others 530 France 597 Germany Source: EUROSTAT, n=

7 Practising Foreign Medical Doctors in Germany % 5% 5% 6% 6% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% practising doctors with foreign citizenship total number of practising doctors in Germany Source: German Medical Association 7

8 Countries of Origin of Practising Foreign Medical Doctors in Germany (2014) Americas 2,79% Africa 5,70% other 0,58% Australia/Oceania 0,07% Asia 17,95% Europe (non-eu) 16,86% EU 56,05% Source: German Medical Association 8

9 Possible Barriers for Skilled Migration in Germany Germany is an attractive country with a strong economy and low barriers for skilled migration why are not more skilled migrants coming to Germany then? Few know how easy it is to come to Germany as a highly skilled professional Possible applicants find the process too complicated Small and medium sized companies do not have the time and resources needed for administrative procedures German language skills are of high importance in the labour market Employers insist on highly specific qualifications that might be difficult to find abroad OECD (2013): the system still essentially presents itself as a series of exemptions from a general recruitment ban 9

10 German Initiatives: Information and Recruitment Triple Win multilingual portal for international qualified professionals personalised information (in German or English) on job search, recognition, entry, residence, German language multilingual portal about recognition of foreign professional qualifications and finding competent authorities recognition counselling in foreign chambers of commerce recruitment of qualified nurses from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Philippines, Tunisia us-und-weiterbildung/bildunginternational/auslaendischeabschluesse/anerkennung/prorecognition 10

11 Thank you for your attention. Ralf Maier Head of Division Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany