As the pandemic subsides and the world slowly starts to recover, Germany is looking towards the future and planning ahead for the next few years. One of the key areas they are focusing on is the immigration of skilled workers through the new 2023 immigration reform designed to make relocating to Germany more attractive and easier for expats.
In recent years, Germany has become a top destination for skilled workers from around the world, thanks to its strong economy, excellent healthcare system, and high standard of living with a solid division between work and home life. But with an aging population and a huge shortage of workers in key industries, the government has recognized the need to attract even more skilled workers to the country in the coming years.
So what can we expect to see in terms of the immigration of skilled workers in Germany in 2023? Here are five key subtopics worthy of getting excited about:
1. Changes to Immigration Laws
One of the biggest factors that will affect immigrants to Germany in 2023 will be changes to immigration laws. The government is currently reviewing its immigration policies and is expected to make changes that will make it easier for skilled workers to come to Germany.
This could include reducing the number of bureaucratic hurdles that immigrants must navigate, simplifying the process for obtaining work visas or residency permits, increasing the number of skilled workers allowed into the country, and shorting the time it takes for naturalization (Einbürgerung).
2. Focus on Digital and Tech Skills
Germany has long been recognized as a leader in the manufacturing industry, but in recent years the country has also made significant strides in the digital and tech sectors. In order to maintain its position as a global leader, Germany is looking to attract more skilled workers with expertise in these areas.
This means that in the new 2023 immigration reform, we can expect to see a greater emphasis on recruiting workers with skills in areas like software development, data analysis, and artificial intelligence.
3. Opportunities for Foreign Students and Vocational Studies
Germany is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities (referred to as Uni in Germany), and thousands of students from around the world come to study in the country every year. In 2023, we can expect to see more opportunities for these students to stay and work in Germany after they graduate.
The government is exploring ways to make it easier for foreign students to obtain work visas or residency permits, with the hope that more of these students will choose to stay and contribute their skills to the German economy.
Even if you are not a student attending a university, Germany is working towards making it easier to move to Germany to obtain special vocational or job training by allowing immigrants to live in Germany for 12 months to train and find work.
4. Language Requirements
Let’s be honest, German is not the easiest language to learn. It can be very overwhelming and difficult to learn, especially if you are not currently living in Germany where you have more access to daily conversation opportunities with locals.
Thankfully, Germany is starting to loosen the language requirements for entry and for staying in Germany. While most people will still need to prove a basic level of German proficiency (A1 -A2), in some areas and situations, people immigrating to Germany will have more leeway on how quickly these skills need to be proved.
It is still wise to begin studying German as soon as possible to be able to communicate and understand German at a very basic level. This will help you with not feeling so overwhelmed with understanding what is going on in daily situations like navigating the grocery store or finding a doctor.
You can take intensive language courses to quickly advance your German at language schools (Sprachschule) like Zwei Kapitel where you can take courses online in a small virtual setting with a native speaker to practice speaking while preparing for the TELC language exam where you will need to prove oral, written, and reading proficiency.
You can also use apps like Babble or Language Drops to quickly begin adding words to your vocabulary and memorizing the genders of nouns quickly and effectively before you start worrying about the grammar you need to compile sentences.
5. Greater Diversity in the Workforce
Finally, one of the most exciting prospects for skilled workers in Germany in 2023 is the prospect of a more diverse workforce. While the country has made strides in recent years in promoting diversity and inclusion, there is still a long way to go.
However, the increased focus on attracting skilled workers from around the world should help to increase the diversity of the German workforce. This will not only help to address the shortage of workers in key industries, but it will also help to create a more vibrant and inclusive society.
All-in-all, the immigration of skilled workers and even students in Germany through the new immigration reform in 2023 presents exciting opportunities for both immigrants and the country as a whole. As the government works to make it easier for skilled workers to come to Germany and contribute their skills to the economy, we can expect to see a stronger, more vibrant workforce with greater diversity and innovation who are happier to stay in Germany because it is easier and more comfortable to stay.
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