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 associations are calling for a new “welcome culture” in Germany. There are already deficits before arrival, including in the granting of visas and later in the areas of housing and childcare. Here too, the authorities lack personnel. In addition, the digitisation of processes is progressing too slowly, and too many documents still have to be submitted in paper form for applications.

A survey by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce had shown that over half of the companies see the shortage of skilled workers as a business risk. It is hoped that the recently introduced changes to the Immigration Act for Skilled Workers will improve the situation. These include, among other things, the fact that since March skilled workers with a degree and professional experience have been able to enter and work in Germany without a prior recognition procedure. They do not yet have to have a recognised education in Germany, but they do have to have an employer.

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