Thus, according to data from the German consulting agency Prognos, without targeted recruitment of foreign specialists from abroad, the labor shortage in Germany will amount to about 3 million people in two years, and increase to 5 million by 2030. Unfortunately, the hopes of German business for an influx of labor migrants due to the opening of the labor market to citizens from Eastern European countries have not materialized. It is believed that German politicians clearly delayed this decision: the most enterprising and qualified personnel from the new EU states have long been working in other countries.
In essence, all attempts by the Federal Government to attract foreign specialists were either half-hearted or clearly belated. For instance, the immigration program for computer specialists from third countries called the 'green card' (Green Card), proposed back by Gerhard Schröder's government, effectively failed. Most applicants for the coveted entry visa stumbled over the high financial barrier: the required income threshold was too high.
The same situation initially occurred with the 'blue card' (Blue Card) program, which was proposed by Brussels back in 2009. Exactly one year ago, the Federal Government adopted this idea, also lowering the required minimum income from 66,000 to 44,800 euros per year. Moreover, for professions in particularly high demand in Germany, such as engineers or doctors, this figure was set even lower – just 34,200 euros per year (2,850 per month).
After three years of legal residence in the Federal Republic, a working foreigner could obtain a permanent residence permit. If they attended integration courses and learned at least the basics of the German language, this period is reduced to two years. In addition, the new law provides for the issuance of a special visa for up to six months solely for job seeking. The only condition is that the foreigner must prove they have sufficient financial means for this period.
Seems like a good idea, but statistics show that qualified personnel are still not rushing to Germany. According to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, as of June 30, 2013, there were 8,879 holders of 'blue cards' in Germany. However, only 2,536 people (28.56%) of the total entered the country under the Blue Card program. In all other cases, it is only a matter of changing the residence status of foreigners already in the country.
The absolute majority of foreign citizens residing under the Blue Card program arrived in Germany from India (1,971 people). In second place are specialists from China – 775 residence permits. In third place are citizens of Russia: 597 people. From Syria, 389 specialists came to work in Germany under this program.
According to statistics, 4,961 holders of the coveted 'blue card' earn more than 46,400 euros per year. At the same time, 3,918 people work in professions that are in acute shortage in Germany. Only 81 people arrived in the Federal Republic last year to look for work, having managed to prove to the German consulate that they could find an employer under the Blue Card program.
Analyzing the interim results of this immigration program, experts note that despite all efforts, neither German business nor politicians have managed to create truly attractive framework conditions for qualified specialists from abroad. Indeed, when passing the new law, the federal authorities expected an influx of about 3,500 specialists per year, but in reality their number turned out to be a third less.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, about 25,000 labor migrants from non-EU and non-EFTA countries arrive in Germany each year, while neighboring little Denmark receives five times as many.
Alex Weiden,
'Russkaya Germaniya'.