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 www.bmbf.de
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 2015. Foreign nationals immigrating to GER (stay of >90 days) 2013 2014 2015 (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 & 2015. 2
Inflow of Third Country Nationals, Jan Sept. 2015 (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
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
Recognition of Professional Qualifications Over 44,000 applications for the recognition of foreign credentials under federal law were submitted in the first three years (2012 2014). 18.000 16.000 14.000 12.000 10.000 8.000 6.000 4.000 2.000 0 4.146 3.420 23,5% 22,1% 2.214 20,2% 13.485 12.057 76,5% 8.775 77,9% 79,8% 2012 2013 2014 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
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 12.108 Source: EUROSTAT, n=13.852 6
Practising Foreign Medical Doctors in Germany 400.000 350.000 300.000 250.000 200.000 150.000 100.000 50.000 0 5% 5% 5% 6% 6% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 practising doctors with foreign citizenship total number of practising doctors in Germany Source: German Medical Association 7
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
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
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 http://www.make-it-ingermany.com/ http://www.make-it-ingermany.com/en/for-qualifiedprofessionals/make-it-ingermany/contact/hotline http://www.recognition-ingermany.de http://www.dihk.de/themenfelder/a us-und-weiterbildung/bildunginternational/auslaendischeabschluesse/anerkennung/prorecognition http://www.triple-winpflegekraefte.de/ 10
Thank you for your attention. Ralf Maier Head of Division Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Federal Ministry of Education and Research Germany ralf.maier@bmbf.bund.de +49 30 18 57 5498 11