Care symbol image
Photo:Christoph Schmidt / dpa
Health and care workers are in short supply in Germany, homes and hospitals have meanwhile extended their search for workers far beyond the borders. This was made possible because at the same time the regulations for the recognition of qualifications were massively streamlined. In 2019 alone, 15,500 exams acquired abroad were accepted. That was 49 percent more than in the previous year, as the Federal Statistical Office announced. Since 2016, the number has almost tripled.
In addition to the EU Member States (2600), qualifications of nurses from the Philippines (2900), Bosnia and Herzegovina (2300) and Albania (1300) were recognized the most. Occupations in health care and nursing belong to the shortage occupations in which, according to the Federal Employment Agency (BA), there is a shortage of skilled workers.
In general, many foreign specialists were recognized in medical health professions in 2019, including doctors, paramedics and physiotherapists. According to statisticians, the number of degrees accepted rose by 24 percent to 27,700. That corresponded to 65 percent of all recognized foreign professional qualifications.
A total of 42,500 foreign degrees recognized in 2019
"The Recognition Act is effective and enables qualified specialists with foreign professional qualifications to work in Germany in the profession they have learned," said Education Minister Anja Karliczek (CDU). The law, which came into force in 2012 and regulates the recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad, makes an important contribution to securing the demand for skilled workers in Germany. Since the law came into force, according to the Ministry, almost 175,000 people have applied for recognition in federally regulated professions alone. In addition, there are professions in which the country is responsible, for example engineer or teacher.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 42,500 professional qualifications acquired within and outside the EU were accepted last year. Qualifications obtained in Syria (4100) were recognized most frequently, followed by skilled workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina (3500), the Philippines (3000), Serbia (2900), Poland (2100) and Romania (2100).
There could be more again in 2020: At the beginning of March, the Skilled Workers Immigration Act came into force. It is intended to make it easier for qualified employees from non-EU countries to find their way to Germany, as these are becoming increasingly scarce in Germany and in the EU. The law aims to speed up visa procedures and improve the possibilities for skilled workers to learn German.
Icon: The mirrorapr / dpa