As before, too few young people in Germany opt for an apprenticeship. According to BBIB boss Esser, the skilled labor immigration law planned by the government alone will not be able to solve the problem.
With a view to the traffic light government’s plans for the immigration of skilled workers in Germany, the President of the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB) has warned against expectations that are too high. “Migration will not solve the problem by a long shot,” said BIBB boss Hubert Esser of “Welt” in Wednesday’s edition. Instead, the potential that lies in the country should be used. It must be possible to get more young people into vocational training again, emphasized Esser. “Otherwise there is a risk of massive bottlenecks on the labor market, which will have a catastrophic effect on quite a few sectors.”
Training contracts at a low level
Vocational training is becoming unattractive for a growing number of young people, Esser said. “You can still offer so many places.” In 2022, the number of new training contracts remained at a low level. A total of 469,900 new contracts were signed. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of new contracts was 0.8 percent higher than in 2021. However, it was eight percent behind the pre-Corona year 2019. A total of around 1.2 million trainees in 2022 once again mark a historic low.
Esser criticizes the Berlin state government’s plan to oblige companies to pay into a fund if they no longer offer apprenticeships. “Compulsory financing is an additional tax for companies. And given the current economic situation, that certainly doesn’t make sense.” Esser also warns that too many official requirements, especially in the skilled trades, can discourage the step into self-employment. “The bureaucracy simply deters too many young people.”
Skilled Immigration Act wants to introduce a point system
At the beginning of July, the Federal Council approved the Skilled Immigration Act presented by the traffic light coalition, which is intended to counteract the labor shortage in Germany. This should make it easier and more attractive for qualified workers from countries outside the EU to take up a job in Germany.
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Key points in the new law are a points system based on the Canadian model and the easier recognition of foreign professional qualifications. Family reunification is also made easier for skilled workers. In the future, they should not only be able to bring the so-called nuclear family to Germany, but also parents and parents-in-law.
Source: Stern
