In Germany, foreigners can find employment even with a vocational specialty
For specialists with higher education, there are no restrictions on professions for employment in Germany. The main thing is that the university that issued the diploma must be recognized in Germany, the qualification must be confirmed by the relevant German authority, and the Federal Employment Agency must check whether a specialist from Germany or another EU country can fill the vacancy. In the case of particularly sought-after personnel – doctors, engineers, IT specialists, or scientists – a "Blue Card" (Blue Card) can also be obtained.
However, for specialists with vocational education, access to the German labor market is significantly limited. A migration law that will facilitate the employment of representatives of working-class professions is planned to be adopted by 2020. For now, opportunities exist only within the framework of the PuMa program in Baden-Württemberg or if the profession is listed in a special list – Positivliste. What is this list?
THE SITUATION WITH THE SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL
Every six months, the German Federal Employment Agency analyzes the situation on the German labor market to find out which areas lack specialists and which regions need them most. The most recent report was compiled in December 2018. Conclusion: there is no widespread general shortage of personnel in Germany, but there are areas where it is obvious.
For example, there is a shortage of specialists in mechatronics and automation, as well as in the energy sector. Vacancies also remain unfilled for a long time in the construction sector, where due to good economic conditions and low interest rates on construction loans, the demand for personnel has grown. There is a shortage of personnel in the field of automotive engineering and aerospace technology. The shortage of personnel is increasing in the field of nursing and elderly care. Software development, programming, and IT consulting are another problematic area.
Based on the results obtained, the Federal Employment Agency compiles a positive list of in-demand professions that require vocational education. Only if a profession is on this list can German employers hire specialists from outside the EU.
"Currently, foreigners can work in Germany in a profession that does not require higher education if they have vocational training recognized in Germany and if the profession is among those in demand," explains Ulrike Beck, an employee of the Federal Employment Agency, in an interview with Deutsche Welle. "With the adoption of the new migration law, the positive list will be abolished." That is, in the future, anyone who has confirmed their diploma will be able to work in Germany with vocational education.
WHO GERMANY IS LACKING
The positive list is updated every six months and exists in two versions – in German and English. It was last updated in March. Electricians, bricklayers, roofers – a total of about five dozen groups of professions are listed. For those who want to study the list themselves, it is important to pay attention to the marks "2" or "3" next to each group. They indicate the level of qualification.
"2" (Fachkraft) – a skilled worker who has completed at least two years of vocational training (these are more numerous in the positive list).
"3" (Spezialist) – a mid-level specialist with a qualification of "technician" or "senior technician" obtained at a college. As a rule, such personnel bear a greater degree of responsibility and supervise the execution of work.
HOW TO FIND A JOB
But if a specialist sees their profession on this list, it does not mean they will be hired immediately. First, they will have to confirm that their qualification corresponds to the German one. This condition will remain mandatory even after the adoption of the new law. When assessing qualifications, work experience, as explained by the Federal Employment Agency, is taken into account additionally but is not a decisive criterion for access to the German market and does not replace obtaining a diploma.
By the way, if the diploma is only partially recognized, the applicant has the opportunity to obtain a visa and then a residence permit for up to 18 months to undergo measures to improve qualifications. During this time, the specialist is allowed to perform auxiliary work in their field. "The only condition is that they must find an enterprise that undertakes to employ them after full recognition of the diploma," emphasizes Ulrike Beck from the Federal Employment Agency.
Unlike foreigners who have graduated from a university, specialists with vocational education do not yet have the opportunity to obtain a six-month visa to come to Germany and search for a job on site. But, as promised by the Federal Employment Agency, this opportunity will appear with the new law.
The address of the agency where documents for confirmation should be sent can be found on the Anabin website. To do this, in the Berufe A – Z section, you need to select a profession, then the federal state.
For example, for the query Metallbauer (metal construction specialist) in Baden-Württemberg, the search engine returns eight agencies – in Ulm, Konstanz, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and other cities. The choice of city depends on where your potential employer is located.
The presence of a specific job offer from an employer in Germany is another important requirement. The specialist must find it independently. Moreover, this is not about Minijob positions, i.e., jobs with minimum wage (up to 450 euros per month), but about full-fledged vacancies with earnings that ensure a decent living.
A separate issue is knowledge of the German language. The current law does not specify requirements for it. The exception is "regulated" professions, for which uniform standards apply at the federal or state level. These include, in particular, doctors, teachers, and lawyers. From the positive list, this category includes, for example, caregivers for the sick or elderly, who must have at least a B1 level of German.
"For skilled trades, it all depends on the type of activity and the employer. In some cases, if the language spoken by the applicant is used at the company, one can work without knowledge of German," notes Ulrike Beck.
Consultations can be obtained at the Virtual Welcome Center of the Federal Employment Agency (Virtuelles Welcome Center). Phone: +49 228 713-1313; email: [email protected]