Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Emily Leshner & Aline Spantig
00:13 Natasha, Biologist from Serbia
00:32 Natasha, Biologist from Serbia 
01:14 Dirk Werner, IW Köln
01:45 Dirk Werner, IW Köln

Script:

Getting a job in Germany as a foreigner isn't easy.      

That's because many professions require job applicants to have specific, local forms of certification. 

+++ SOT Natasha, Biologist from Serbia +++
''In other countries, I did not need to have any additional papers. So, my diploma was valid."

Before moving to Germany, Natasha worked as a biologist in Serbia.

Here, she's taking advantage of a free consultation hour to learn what her options are in her new country.

+++ SOT Natasha, Biologist from Serbia +++
"When I try to apply as a lab technician, I'm overqualified. I cannot get the job because apparently, for that you just need 'Ausbildung' and I've got [a] master's certificate."

Germany's medical sector is in desperate need of workers. Experts estimate there are between 200 and 300 thousand open positions for medical professionals.

That's why 41 percent of all qualification recognition applications are submitted from nurses. 

+++GRAFIK REIN+++

In 2024, the German government received more than 95,000 requests from foreign workers to recognize their profession. That's more than double the amount of requests Germany got 8 years ago.

((Headline: Requests to recognize job qualifications
Subhead: In Germany, in 2024

2024: 95,500
2016: 38,000

Source: Destatis))

+++GRAFIK RAUS+++

+++ SOT Dirk Werner, IW Köln +++
The fact that we have reached such a high level is also due to the fact that we have significantly accelerated the processes, that we have also advertised it more, raised awareness of it, and that there are now many initiatives, especially in the field of nursing.

+++GRAFIK REIN+++

97 percent of the processed applications last year were approved. That's good news for job seekers, who are already in the country.

Source: Destatis
 
+++GRAFIK RAUS+++

+++GRAFIK REIN+++

Most of the qualifications Germany approved were acquired in Turkey, followed by Ukraine, Tunisia, India and Syria.

((Headline: Top countries with recognized qualifications 

1. Turkey
2. Ukraine
3. Tunisia
4. India      
5. Syria

Source: Destatis))

+++GRAFIK RAUS+++

+++ SOT Dirk Werner, IW Köln +++
"For one thing, we can still improve when it comes to issuing visas. We just need more staff at our embassies abroad. The second point is that we should offer a centralized digital platform. And third, we need more personnel at the immigration offices in Germany." 

More personnel needed, to close the labor gap.

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