Signite's Magazine

Germany’s Federal Statistical Office has published new statistics on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications. According to the figures, the number of positive recognition procedures increased from 52,300 in 2022 to 65,300 in 2023 (up 25 per cent). This is 11% more than in the previous year. Compared to 2016, when Destatis recorded the recognition […]

The German government has decided to introduce a new nursing assistant education programme. The aim of the bill is to ensure that nursing assistants in future undergo a nationally standardised, appropriately remunerated training. Because Germany is divided into 16 federal states, which are allowed to have a say in educational matters, the introduction of such […]

The Competence Centre for Securing Skilled Workers, or KOFA for short, is a project commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection that provides advice and support to decision-makers in companies in the form of information and tips. Logically, KOFA encourages the recruitment of personnel from so-called third countries. ‘Looking abroad expands […]

In the first half of this year, more than 80,000 visas were issued to people who want to work in Germany. About half of them are skilled workers. This means that the number has increased by around 5% compared to the previous year. In view of the acute shortage of skilled workers, major German business […]

Since 1 November, higher average wages have applied in Germany for those working in inpatient long-term care. On average, across all occupational groups and irrespective of professional experience, the hourly wages are 20.77 euros. Across Germany, the new average wages per working hour will in future be 17.53 euros for nursing assistants without training. (plus […]

The Nursing Staff Lower Limits Ordinance is being expanded once again to include another nursing-sensitive area: neurosurgery. From the beginning of next year, i.e. 2024, a ratio of nine patients to one nurse will apply on the day shift and 18 to one on the night shift. These ratios are intended to ensure the necessary […]

The German Federal Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, has announced that nurses are to be given more powers in their work. The aim is that in future they will be able to do more of what they are now only allowed to do under medical supervision. This has long been a central demand of nurses […]

Our website has undergone a relaunch. In future, Signite will offer other profiles for other sectors in addition to the already familiar placement of medical professionals from third countries for the German healthcare industry. The new Immigration Act, which will gradually come into force in the coming months, offers much broader opportunities for labour migration. […]

Since 1 March, the new Immigration Act for Germany has made it possible for future skilled workers to obtain a visa without a notice of deficiency. We explain exactly how this works here. Since the beginning of this month, applications for a work visa can also be submitted without a decision on deficits. Even with […]

The energy transition, i.e. the switch in energy generation from fossil fuels (e.g. coal) to sustainable energy sources (solar panels, wind turbines) and electric cars, is increasing the demand for well-trained skilled workers in the industry. In addition, an above-average number of people in Germany will be retiring in the coming years. There are currently […]

Economic downturn or not, the metal and electrical industry in northern Germany is still in great need of skilled labour. Depending on the company, there is currently a shortage of between 10 and 20 per cent of skilled workers. According to a survey by the Nordmetall trade union, around 42,000 skilled workers are currently being […]

Carers employed in public institutions, i.e. those belonging to the state, will receive more money in the first half of 2024. From 1 March, nursing staff employed in public institutions will receive more money. This is the result of the agreement reached in collective bargaining for the public sector at federal and municipal level. Their […]

There is no shortage of government support. Companies in the climate sector receive billions in aid. But there is a shortage of workers, which is slowing down the expansion of renewable energies. According to the Competence Centre for Securing Skilled Workers (Kofa) at the German Economic Institute (IW), there was a shortage of 184,000 skilled […]

The staffing situation in the care sector is tense. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the gap between the number of nursing staff and demand worldwide is 5.8 million. The WHO forecast for the next five years sees a positive trend, but some issues remain a cause for concern. By 2035, one in five […]

The German federal government has passed key legislation to strengthen and develop nursing care in order to make nursing professions more attractive, combat the shortage of skilled workers and improve medical care. At the heart of the two laws is the introduction of a nationally standardised nursing assistant training programme and comprehensive measures to expand […]

According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 37,400 people successfully completed their training as nursing professionals last year. This was the second graduating class since the introduction of the three-year generalist nursing training programme in 2020 (33,570 in the class of 2023). According to statistics, the vast majority of graduates (99 percent) chose the generalist […]