Opportunities Working in Germany 1 August 2024 Updated Edition

E D I T O R I A L EVERYONE’S A WINNER! Centres across nine partner countries provide advice on ways to come to Germany. p. 32 Dear Readers, When Bilge Atici travels abroad, he feels homesick for Germany. “But when I come back and open my front door, I feel like I’m home again.” Bilge is an en­ gineer who has lived near Munich since 2019 where she works for an aerospace company. She’s one of many international skilled workers who have chosen to make a life for themselves in Germany. They value the career prospects, not least in key future­oriented fields such as artificial intelligence and green energy. But it’s not just about work: they appreciate the high quality of life, Germany’s welfare system and excellent opportunities for further training and development. CAREERS WITH A FUTURE Opportunities are blossoming in artificial intelligence, the skilled crafts and trades, and startups. p. 36 SKILLS FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES Germany is helping young people gain prac- tical experience in their home countries. p. 50 FACTS & FIGURES p. 54 PUBLICATION DETAILS UNDER GERMAN L AW p. 56 Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her visit to the training centre of TESDA, the Philippines central office for technical training and skills development, January 2024 Germany is making it attractive for skilled workers to move here, such as through wide­ranging legal reforms which remove obstacles to migration. Find out what that means for you in this issue of Deutschland.de - The Magazine. We also inter­ viewed Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil, who told us about the importance of the new Opportunities Card. Elsewhere we take a look at Egypt, where an Egyptian­German advice centre helps skilled workers prepare for a future in Ger­ many. At the same time, Germany is lending a hand to partner countries which are creating vocational training systems along the lines of Germany’s dual system. We’ll also introduce you to people like Bilge Atici, people who work in many differ­ ent industries and come from all over the world. But what they all have in com­ mon is that they now feel at home here in Germany. We can’t wait to introduce you to Germany, the opportunity hotspot! Best wishes, the Editors 3

5 R E A S O N S F O R G E R M A N Y Stunning nature Some landscapes in Germany are so beautiful that you’d be forgiven for thinking they were created on a computer. The Urach Waterfalls in the Swabian Jura could be straight out of “The Lord of the Rings”, while the Elbe Sandstone Moun- tains of Saxony (Photo) offer breathtaking views of gigan- tic rock formations. Our 16 national parks and 9,000 nature reserves provide safe spaces where protected species can live away from human interference. Walking and hiking trails stretching over 300,000km are the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors. 4 Warm, welcoming people 3 A safe place to live Germany is one of the safest countries in the world. Crime rates are relatively low and the police and security forces work closely with international partners. The detection rate for crimes stands at just under 60%, and Germany ranks 15th in the Global Peace Index. Munich, Augsburg, Wiesbaden and Mainz rank as Germany’s safest major cities. Compared to other countries around the world, Germany is rarely im- pacted by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Germany is a modern and cosmopolitan country. It’s no accident that we’re among the top destinations for inter- national students, fourth in the world rankings (behind only English-speaking countries). Our young people love mak- ing new friends, they speak English and enjoy finding out about other cultures, international sport, music and techno logical innovations. Here in Germany, people can choose for themselves how to live their lives, creating a rich and diverse tapestry of lifestyles and attitudes. Almost one in four Germans comes from some kind of migrant background. The state is committed to ensuring that everyone can live freely and independently. 5 5

O P P O R T U N I T Y - H O T S P O T S R E S H M A S A H A D E VA N , IT expert V L A D I M I R G A A L , Electronics engineer M A RY C E L I N E S A N T I AG O, Nurse S A R G O N S H A M U A I L , Painter and decorator K I N G S L E Y I G B I N OV I A , Truck driver 7

O P P O R T U N I T Y - H O T S P O T S “Here in Germany my children have the chance to get a good education and a safe and secure future. S A R G O N S H A M U A I L , Painter and decorator Con- struction The white walls of the first flat which Sargon Shamuail rented in Germany were what in- spired him to take up his current trade. He wanted a bit more colour in his new home when he and his wife moved in with their two children after coming to Germany from Iraq in 2009. “I didn’t know anything about painting, so I said to myself, I’m going to learn.” He asked building firms if they needed workers. “My neighbour and former German teacher helped me with the applications,” the 46-year- old recalls. In the end he was taken on by a small building firm in Frankfurt. “My colleagues taught me wallpapering, painting, varnishing and plastering. They also helped me when I had to deal with bureaucracy and with writing letters.” His colleagues are now his friends. People like Sargon are in high demand, as building companies in Germany are currently looking for over 15,000 new staff. International workers already make up 23% of people em- ployed in the industry. Building and construc- tion is a significant factor in Germany’s econ- omy, with a turnover of over €100 billion a year. 9

Logistics O P P O R T U N I T Y - H O T S P O T S “I feel like I'm settling down. I've achieved a lot here.” K I N G S L E Y I G B I N OV I A , Truck driver “My dream is to set up my own logistics business one day.” Kingsley Igbinovia came to Germany from Nigeria in 2017 aged only 17. The same year he completed a Hauptschule school leaving certificate. With his certificate in hand, he found an apprenticeship as a truck driver with DB Schenker in Arnstadt in Thuringia. “I wanted to become a truck driver because I like travelling and meeting new people,” says Kingsley, who got a permanent job right after completing his training. According to the Ifo Institute, over half of Ger­ many’s logistics firms are facing staffing short­ ages. Although the sector is growing, freight vol­ umes continue to increase, so the shortages persist. With a turnover worth €319 billion in 2022 and over 3 million employees, logistics is the third­largest sector in the German economy. In order to ensure supply security and economic performance now and in future, German logistics companies are looking all over the world for workers like Kingsley Igbinovia. 11

O P P O R T U N I T Y - H O T S P O T S “In Brazil Germany is known for the quality of its craftsmanship and good working conditions.” V L A D I M I R G A A L , Electronics engineer 13

O P P O R T U N I T Y C A R D Germany has so much to offer, from exciting career pros­ pects and innovative businesses, social security and a stable democracy which upholds freedoms of opinion and expres­ sion, and great schools and outstanding universities. Key fu­ ture industries such as renewables and digital technologies are thriving in Germany, and this is reflected in the labour market. For Germany's Federal Government, a key priority in delivering this transformation is bringing in the expertise of skilled workers from around the world. With the updated Skilled Workers Immigration Law, Germany has taken another step in 2024 towards its goal of becoming a modern nation of immigration. The new law includes nu­ merous measures to remove obstacles for graduates and skilled workers who hold vocational qualifications from out­ side the EU. The most important of these new measures is the Opportunity Card, which was introduced in June 2024. Who can get an Opportunity Card? The Opportunity Card allows skilled workers from non­EU states to come to Germany to find a job. The card is initially valid for one year. Who can get an Opportunity Card? 1. Holders of foreign vocational or academic qualifications which are fully recognised in Germany. People who graduat­ ed from higher education in Germany or completed vocation­ al training there can also get an Opportunity Card without having to meet any additional skills or language requirements. 2. Holders of foreign university degrees, holders of vocation­ al qualifications (at least 2 years in length and officially rec­ ognised in the country where training was completed), or holders of vocational qualifications awarded by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. Applicants also need to show they can speak German at A1 level or English at B2 lev­ el. A points system applies from this point on. Those applying for an Opportunity Card need to score six points: – 4 points for a foreign vocational qualification which can be recognised under German standards, even if additional qualifications will be required later (known as “Teilanerkennung”). – 3 points for at least 5 years’ professional experience within the last 7 years or “good” German language skills at B2 level. – 2 points for “satisfactory” German language skills (B1 level), 2 years’ professional experience within the last 5 years, and being aged under 35. – 1 point for “adequate” German language skills (A2 level), a previous stay of at least 6 months in Germany within the last 5 years, aged 35-39, C1 English skills (if the qualifica­ tion is relevant where there is a worker shortage, and if the partner meets the requirements for the Opportunity Card). To obtain an Opportunity Card, skilled workers must prove that they can afford to live in Germany for up to one year while they find work without requiring state benefits. Opportunity Card holders who find a job in Germany within a year can apply to the local Immigration Office in their new place of residence for permanent permission to work in Ger­ many, such as an EU Blue Card. Lower salary thresholds, and professions where there is a shortage of workers In 2023 the Federal Government removed a range of obsta­ cles to skilled worker immigration, such as by lowering salary thresholds for the EU Blue Card. The Federal Government also expanded the list of profes­ sions where there is a shortage of workers. In addition to specialists in maths, IT, science, engineering and medicine, in future, the lower salary thresholds for an EU Blue Card will also apply to vets, dentists and pharmacists, managers in the manufacturing, construction and logistics sectors, early years teachers and healthcare workers. More information is available on the Federal Government’s portal for skilled workers from abroad, “Make it in Germany”. Make it in Germany 15

H U B E R T U S H E I L I N T E R V I E W “Opening doors and hearts” New legislation is making it easier for skilled workers to emigrate to Germany. Employment Minister Hubertus Heil explains how this will work. He also talks about the role of the Opportunity Card and why a genuinely welcoming culture is so important. Mr Heil, you have described the new law as “the cornerstone of a modern country of im- migration”. What are the distinctive features of a modern country of immigration in your view? A modern country of immigration opens doors and hearts. It demonstrates a genuinely welcoming culture in everyday life with few bureaucratic ob­ stacles. We need skilled workers from all around the world as our own population is growing older and there are already many vacant positions here. Other industrialised countries are facing exactly the same challenges. Germany is an attractive country, but we are competing with many other countries with longer traditions of migration, ones where the weather might be better or the lan­ guage easier. That’s why we need to make active efforts to recruit highly qualified immigrants and 17 make it as easy as possible for them to start life in Germany. That’s exactly what our new law does. We’re low­ ering barriers, stripping away bureaucracy and fo­ cusing much more on people’s potential. This has made the legal framework more modern than ever. At the same time we also want to make it easier for people to integrate into everyday life. We want people to feel comfortable here, become part of our society and want to stay here. Lan­ guage skills are crucial in this regard, but social engagement and a welcoming culture at work also matter as well. Why does Germany need skilled workers from abroad? Right now there are 17 million vacant positions in Germany. At the same time, over the next few years there will be more people retiring than young people entering the workforce. That means there is already a shortage of workers and that gap is only going to widen in the long term. We cannot close that gap just from our “own re­ serves” alone. True, there is still untapped poten­ tial around employment for women, older people and people with disabilities. But we still need mi­ gration on top of this. Given that finding skilled workers often takes a long time, we now need to pull out all the stops, both by making migration easier and making better use of our own reservoir of talent.

H U B E R T U S H E I L I N T E R V I E W Germany’s Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil meets nurses at Berlin’s Charité hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe. You have personally tried to recruit skilled workers on trips to India, Brazil and several other countries. What reactions did you encounter? What are the most important arguments you put forward when promoting Germany? Almost without exception the reactions were positive. Many young, motivated and well educated people would love to come to Germany, either because there is a lack of pros­ pects for them at home or because of the opportunities which Germany offers them such as around professional training and development. Sometimes people mentioned the good security situation here and opportunities to bring their family with them. There are many great reasons to come to Germany: regulat­ ed working conditions, diverse career opportunities and strong science and industry. Skilled workers can benefit from these in their own professional advancement. In addition to this there is our social security system such as health insur­ ance, good opportunities to bring your family to Germany, and free education. The latter point is particularly important for young families and foreign students as well. 19

F I N D I N G Y O U R J O B I N G E R M A N Y I N S E V E N S T E P S 4. Visa and residence permit Mаríа has been offered the job! Now she can apply for a work visa. She meets the requirements for the visa as her degree from Mexico is comparable to a degree from a German higher education institution. The salary for her new job meets the minimum requirement for shortage occupations (currently €39,682.80), so she is eligible for an EU Blue Card. Skilled workers can apply for an Opportunity Card if they do not yet have a job offer. ↗ entry process 5. Essential documents Mаríа wastes no time in making an appointment at the German embassy, and assembles all the documents she needs. These include her completed job applications, copies of her exam- ination certificates and other documents, and passport photos. She also needs to take out health insurance. ↗ embassies and consulates abroad 6. Getting to Germany Mаríа has received her visa, so she books her flights and prepares for her new life in Germany. She makes sure she understands the essentials, such as how to find an apartment. She also makes sure she has somewhere to stay when she first arrives. ↗ advisory-contаct-services/in-germаny 7. After arriving in Germany Shortly after arriving in Germany, Mаríа makes an appointment to visit the immigration office and assembles the documents she needs to apply for a residence permit. She also opens a bank account and registers with the city coun- cil as a resident. Now she's ready to start her new job! Further information: ↗ www.mаke-it-in-germаny.com The rules of the new Skilled Immigration Act are expected to come into force in November 2023. 21

F A Q | G E R M A N A T W O R K German at work German is one of the ten most widely­spoken lan­ guages in the world. It is also a major language of trade and commerce in Central and Eastern Europe. While English is widespread in many in­ dustries and in science and academia in Germany, you won’t get far in many careers if you can’t speak any German at all. German skills are par­ ticularly important wherever you come into direct contact with customers. They are also vital for you and your colleagues to understand each other. “Employers value the high levels of motivation of skilled workers who have migrated to Germany,” says Dr Martin Noack an expert in training and employment at the Bertelsmann Foundation. “The percentage of employees who hold foreign pass­ ports has almost doubled since 2009,” he says. Germany’s shortage of skilled workers is a great opportunity for migrants. “If they have the neces­ sary specialist skills and can speak German as well, the number of jobs open to them goes up by a third,” Dr Noack adds. “Learning some specialist vocabulary even before you come to Germany can give you a boost when finding a job.” D R M A R T I N N OAC K , Employment and training expert Goethe-Institut – German at work Having German skills at level B1/B2 is usually enough to start integrating into your new job. Training expert Dr Noack advises skilled workers who are thinking about starting work in Germany to focus on career­related content at an early stage when learning German. Self­tests like meine­berufserfahrung.de and additional skills tests like MySkills can help you identify your own professional strengths and focus your language learning on these areas. “Learning some specialist vocabulary even before you come to Germany can give you a boost when finding a job,” says Noack, whose team analysed over 48 million job adverts for their Job Monitor, which came out in 2022. German skills are in particularly high demand in the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as transport and logistics. If you do want to get a foothold on working life in Germany, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to learn German. The “Ankommen” app helps you start learning words and phrases at home. The Goethe­Institut also offers exercises tailored to specific fields, making it easier to communicate in the workplace. In addition, adult education cen­ tres in Germany run work­related language courses, while part­time courses offered by the Federal Employment Agency allow those in em­ ployment to take part. In the end, German is just like any other language: give it a go, and don’t worry about making mistakes! The best way to practice what you’ve learned is by talking to oth­ ers, be that in the office, the workshop, the bak­ ery or a café. Federal Office for Migration and Refugees – “Ankommen” app Federal Employment Agency – Learn German 23

G R E E N J O B S 25

G R E E N J O B S favour of renewable energy. The term attracted attention around the world and found a place in a number of lan­ guages, and even English, where “Energiewende” is some­ times used in scientific publications. Now similar terms exist for other fields relevant to climate protection such as trans­ port (“Verkehrswende”), heating (“Wärmewende”), and farming (“Agrarwende”). “Energiewende” first emerged in Germany in the late 1970s. The anti­nuclear movement were the first to call for the re­ structuring of the energy systems, demanding a “transition” to new forms of energy. On the one hand they were calling for an end to nuclear power, which at the time played a major role in Germany. On the other hand, their demands also included using energy more economically and reducing dependence on imported fuel, especially oil. At around the same time, a new Öko­Institut was set up in Freiburg to focus on environmental issues. It also emerged from the anti­nuclear movement and is now a leading en­ vironmental research institution. In 1980 the new institute published a report with the forward­looking title of “Energy Transition: growth and prosperity without oil and uranium”. The key points of the report were that wind power, solar power, hydropower, biomass and geothermal energy should replace fossil fuels, accompanied by energy efficiency as an additional measure. Florentin Krause, one of the authors of the report, once described energy efficiency as “the trump card if you want to make climate goals safe and af­ fordable.” Today, these are the key elements of Germany’s energy transition policy. In the ten years after 2000, the proportion of green electricity in Germany’s supply rose from 6% to three times that level. But there was still a long way to go to get from calls and con­ cepts to the point of concrete policies. Committees advising the Federal Government warned of the risks of climate change, while a 1987 inquiry into provisions to protect the earth's at­ mosphere recommended substantial cuts to greenhouse emis­ sions. Shortly before this, the “Spiegel” current affairs maga­ zine prompted a public debate on the issue through its headline story entitled “The Climate Catastrophe”. By passing the Renewable Energy Sources Act in 2000 the Federal Government created a principle where green electricity was given priority, along with increasing subsidies. The im­ proved conditions made it more attractive for many businesses and members of the public to invest in the energy transition. Soon, wind turbines and solar panels could be seen across the whole country. In the ten years after 2000, the proportion of green electricity in Germany’s supply rose from 6% to three times that level. Today, it is just under 50%. Speeding up the expansion of green energy quickly reduced prices for what had initially been expensive technologies. Renewables were now competitive, not just here but around the world. Nowadays they are often cheaper than fossil fuels, costing a few cents per kilowatt hour for solar power and land­based wind turbines. 27

G R E E N J O B S I’m proud that I can play an active part in shaping the ener­ gy transition,” he says. German businesses are looking for more skilled workers like Jamal Benfаydаh following the Federal Government’s approv­ al of ambitious climate goals and the decision to set a new course to accelerate the energy transformation. Germany aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2045, 5 years ahead of the European Union. According to government plans, 80% of Germany’s electricity needs will be met from renewable sources by 2030, 15 million electric cars will be on German roads, and 6 million heat pumps will have been installed. In addition to this, the production of green hydrogen will be ac­ celerated over the next few years. Germany will pull the plug on coal­fired power stations by 2038 at the latest. The last nuclear power stations went offline in the spring of 2023. All this will lead to strong growth of jobs in the energy transi­ tion sector in the coming years, and demand for skilled work­ ers is already high. Many sectors of the green economy are looking for new workers, from skilled crafts and trades to en­ gineering, construction, IT, energy and electrical technology and many others. They all need “additional pairs of hands”, as the open letter from energy transition businesses put it. These jobs offer great career prospects as well as making a key contribution to driving the energy transition. Jamal Benfaydah has worked in the German solar industry since 2021. 29

I N T E R V I E W W I T H R E E M A L A B A L I - R A D O V A N REEM AL ABALI-RADOVAN, was born in Moscow in 1990. She is a Member of the German Bun- destag and since 2021 has been a Minister of State for Migration, Refugees and Integration. She has also served as the Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Racism since 2022. One priority is to make naturalisation procedures quick- er and more efficient. What measures does the law in- clude to achieve that? Most people who become naturalised German citizens have previously been in contact with immigration agencies and submitted documents and evidence. Yet it remains the case that too many documents need to be submitted more than once, making the application process more difficult for appli­ cants and staff alike. The new law improves information shar­ ing between official bodies. At the same time we are digitalis­ ing many processes to support the work of naturalisation agency staff, allowing them to use data more efficiently. “This law creates incentives to integrate more quickly.” “Many people have been waiting for this for years, decades.” need to create the right conditions. We've already done that in legal terms, but socially some things need to change as well. It’s one thing to attract these people to bring their skills to the German labour market, but it’s quite another thing to ensure that they want to stay here for the long term. That has a lot to do with creating a positive culture which wel­ comes people, such as integration services, nursery places for children, and fair prospects of becoming German citizens in future. Last but not least, we must ask, what is the mood in Germany? That is another factor in people’s decisions to come to Germany. Critics of the new law say that it devalues German citi- zenship. How do you respond to those views? The truth is quite the opposite: this law creates incentives to integrate more quickly. We also included provisions in the law that German citizenship means making a clear commitment to shared fundamental values. People applying for citizen­ ship must be committed to our liberal democratic founda­ tions. They must acknowledge Germany’s unique historic re­ sponsibility for the crimes of the Nazi regime and their consequences, with particular regard to protecting Jewish life. German citizenship will not be awarded to anyone who behaves in an antisemitic or racist way or in any way that degrades other people. You have spoken to people who have experienced mi- gration. What does becoming a German citizen mean to them? How far will the new law contribute to positive econom- ic and social trends in Germany in terms of skilled work- ers, for instance? There’s already a huge shortage of workers, skilled and un­ skilled, particularly in the healthcare and care sectors. We have a vested interest in ensuring that more skilled and un­ skilled workers come here and stay here. To do that, we For many people, becoming a German citizen means living in safety, in a democracy with a functioning rule of law. Germa­ ny’s Basic Law puts human rights front and centre. It guar­ antees the same rights for all, regardless of origin, religion, gender or skin colour. Last but not least, the fact that people decide to make their futures in this country and become Ger­ man citizens is both a great benefit to life here, and also a sign of how greatly it is valued. 31

A D V I C E C E N T R E S : S P O T L I G H T O N E G Y P T Maadi is a leafy neighbourhood in the south of Cairo. It nes­ tles against the Nile to the east, and largely consists of im­ pressive houses and tree­lined streets. In English, “Maadi” means “ferries”, which is apt given the role of the Egyp­ tian­German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (EGC). The centre is located in the heart of Maadi and its job includes helping Egyptians prepare for migrating to Germany – helping them make the crossing, so to speak. Spread over several floors of a building, the EGC includes a generously sized visitors area on the ground floor with offices for staff upstairs. It started work a little less than two years ago, but that re­ mained almost entirely virtual due to the pandemic. Since then the doors have opened for real and interest is high in what the EGC has to offer. Strictly speaking the centre has three different but connected tasks. Firstly, it exists to help people returning from other countries to reintegrate into Egypt; secondly, it helps prepare people for work in Egypt; and thirdly it advises and supports skilled workers who are making their way to Germany. Initially the centre focused on the jobs market for local residents and returners, but since early 2023 migration through regular routes to Germany has become established as a third pillar of its work. 12,000 individual consultations since opening in 2021. Huge interest “Since we opened in 2021 we have conducted over 12,000 in­ dividual consultations,” says Shahira Wassef who handles the migration portfolio for GIZ, the German society for inter­ national development partnerships, in Egypt. “That’s an enormous number.” Given the high levels of interest and a target audience which is not limited to Cairo, there are now 14 regional offices spread across the whole country. These are always located in areas where socio­economic factors such as unemployment and poverty drive up the risk of irregular migration. The aim is to offer training and qualifi­ cations to improve people’s chances in their local jobs mar­ kets, but the offices also provide information on employment opportunities in Germany. On the German side, GIZ runs the centre on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Develop­ ment. They work with representatives of the Egyptian Minis­ try of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriate's Affairs. This con­ stellation alone shows that these services are in the interest of both sides. Egypt is looking for ways to give its young population a better education and get young people into work, both at home and abroad. Germany needs skilled workers and is therefore prioritising targeted migration for work purposes. The EGC provides advice to visitors accord­ ing to their situation and what they want. Sometimes it con­ cerns courses and training, such as how to improve some­ one's skills as an electrical mechanic. Sometimes the EGC provides information on requirements for entering Germany. Many people, and young people, have been able to get valu­ able help from the centre. 3333

A D V I C E C E N T R E S : S P O T L I G H T O N E G Y P T Advisers at the EGC discuss all aspects of migration with visitors. Providing knowledge and suppor t across Africa Though Egypt has a long association with diaspora (an esti­ mated 10% of its population live abroad) it is not the only country which wants to explore and share the opportunities of legal migration. Centres for migration and development al­ ready exist in countries such as Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia, or are under construction. They are all now paying special attention to mi­ gration to Europe. Development Minister Svenja Schulze visited the centre in Ghana along with Labour Minister Hubertus Heil in February 2023. She summed up its goals thus: “Managed properly, mi­ gration holds enormous potential for the economic develop­ ment in our partner countries and in our own country as well.” She went on, “the existing Ghanaian­German Migration Ad­ vice Centre has previously focused on helping returning Ghanaians to reintegrate. We want to turn this one­way street into a two­way road.” Shahira Wassef also rebuts the accusation which is some­ times made that prosperous countries pick off well educated people for their own purposes. Even the preparation for working abroad boosts people's qualifications, to say noth­ ing of working for a German company. Alongside learning the language, experiencing Germany's culture and making con­ tacts, Egyptians in Germany learn many additional skills which they can bring back home later. “We stopped talking about ‘brain drain’ years ago,” Wassef says. “Now we're talk­ ing about ‘brain gain’.” 35

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : A I Artificial Intelligence Opportunities for AI talent As a location for AI expertise, Germany has a lot to offer for a field whose importance is only set to grow in future, both in academia and business. Text: Klaus Lüber During a summer school in 2019 Richard Gao, a PhD student in the Department of Cognitive Science at the world­re­ nowned University of California San Diego, got to know a group of German scientists from Tübingen. The team leader gave a talk on how artificial intelligence can be used in neuro science research. Gao loved it. Then, when he had to choose where to continue his research as a Postdoc, he ultim ately opted for the small university city near Stuttgart. “For a while now Tübingen has been known around the world as a top location for AI and neuroscience,” he tells us. Gao has been a member of Professor Jakob Macke’s research group into machine learning in science at Tübingen’s AI Center since 2021. The tie­in between the University of Tübingen and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems is part of a nationwide network which currently consists of six AI research hotspots. The Federal Government wants to use these as part of its AI strategy to raise the profile of German AI research. The government’s stated goal is to encourage AI professionals from around the world to make a career in Germany. This goal not only applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students, but also at the level of university professors, where an add­ itional 150 jobs have been planned. 37

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : A I AI meets agriculture: intelligent machines such as these autonomous robots can be used by farmers. Germany’s Federal Government wants to raise the profile of German AI research around the world. 3939

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : S T A R T U P S Startups Funding to help great new ideas thrive Entrepreneurs with ideas for new businesses enjoy great prospects for successful startups in Germany. The welcome is especially warm for sustainable innovations. 41

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : S T A R T U P S Innovative startup-founders invigorate the economy and are considered to be key to social progress. 4343

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : S K I L L E D C R A F T S A N D T R A D E S Skilled crafts and trades An independent outlook Skilled workers are needed across all areas of the skilled crafts and trades, so highly qualified workers from abroad have excellent chances. What’s more, ap- plicants can get help finding the right job. 45

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : S K I L L E D C R A F T S A N D T R A D E S “We know which businesses are advertising and we can talk to them in a targeted way,” Gustav explains. “Ideally, we can bring the two sides to­ gether.” For skilled workers setting up inde­ pendently can offer long­term prospects in Ger­ many. “We have observed that many of the ethnic Germans who came here in the Nineties now run their own businesses,” Gustav says. “Many of the people who migrated here from Syria in 2015 have also now integrated very well into the employment market.” According to analysis undertaken by the Institute for Employment Research, small firms appear par­ ticularly attractive to workers from abroad. They also employ more refugees, especially where the firm already has experience of working with for­ eign workers. They are also more likely to recruit new staff through their own existing employees and other personal contacts. Regional factors matter, too, as migrants are more likely to be em­ ployed in areas where the staff shortage is par­ ticularly acute. According to master carpenter Martin Kohstall, bureaucracy is not too much of an obstacle to taking on apprentices he from abroad. “New ar­ rivals in Germany need a residence permit and if that needs extended, that’s just something you have to deal with yourself,” he explains. He doesn’t consider the examinations at vocation­ al colleges to be too much of a barrier, either. Germany has a well­known system of two­track vocational training. Apprentices, known as “Azubis” for short, spend one or two days a week “There’s a desperate need for workers across all the skilled crafts and trades.” S T E FA N G U S TAV, Chamber of Crafts adviser 47

C A R E E R S W I T H A F U T U R E : S K I L L E D C R A F T S A N D T R A D E S at a vocational college where they study the the­ oretical foundations of their trade. They can then put their new knowledge to use straight away in the workplace. The exams are of course more challenging for people who do not speak German as a first language. Even here, though, Martin Kohstall says a lot depends on how the college and lectures deal with the problem. “The majority of international apprentices pass their exams,” says Kerstin Brandt, an advisor at the IHAFA integration project which offers training in the skilled crafts and trades for refugees and asylum seekers. Funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equality, the project places immigrants into ap­ prentices for skilled crafts and trades and sup­ ports them until they have completed their train­ ing. “Being able to speak German is important,” Brandt emphasises. “It matters when talking to colleagues on the building site or in the workshop just as much as it does in the vocational college.” The IHAFA project’s work includes supporting ap­ prentices whose language skills are not up to the demands of the workplace or examinations. Train­ ees can improve their language skills through tu­ toring programmes and vocational language courses which they take alongside their work. Adel Hammamy managed to get his language skills up to scratch. Adel comes from Syria and had only lived in Germany for three years when Martin Kohstall took him on as an apprentice. “I read a lot and watched TV to try to learn the lan­ guage better,” says the 35­year­old. He has now worked as an assistant joiner at the Mu­ nich­based firm for 16 years. The good mood that Hammamy brings to the workshop seems infec­ tious. He says that you always work as a team in the skilled crafts and trades, and he like that. It’s also the best way to learn German. He’s happy that he stuck at his vocational training, which wasn’t always easy. “As a carpenter, you’ve al­ ways got a good future,” he says. Goethe-Institut – German in the craft “As a carpenter, you’ve always got a good future.” A D E L H A M M A M Y, Carpenter from Syria 49

T R A I N I N G A R O U N D T H E W O R L D Germany is committed helping young people ac- cess practical training in their own countries of origin so they can become valued professionals at home or in Germany. For young people in Turkey, completing your high school diploma puts you on a conveyor belt to­ wards university. “Academic education is highly valued here,” says Oya Dinçdoğdu. On the one hand, that’s no bad thing, but many businesses are critical. “School leavers may have all kinds of theoretical knowledge, but they have next to no experience of how to use this in practice,” Dinçdoğdu explains. “Here it is quite rare to find a connection between theory and practice as you would in German vocational education.” Germany is providing support to numerous countries to set up two-track vocational training systems which link theory and practice. Building links with Germany’s jobs market Every year since 2017 the Skills Expert initiative has helped ten German Chambers of Commerce Abroad to expand activities linked to vocational training. The project focuses on the needs of Ger­ man companies in Turkey and their local business partners. Dinçdoğdu and her team at AHK Turkey joined the programme in January 2023. They are testing the potential for preparing foreign skilled workers to make the switch to the German labour market. They are also adding extra modules to the curriculum which are targeted at showing equiva­ lence with German reference careers. “That means young people in Turkey not only get a high­quality practice­oriented vocational qualifi­ cation in Turkey, but that same qualification is their link to the German labour market. Oya Dinçdoğdu is working on changing that. As a skills expert at the AHK Turkey, the German­Turk­ ish chamber of industry and commerce, she is calling for a two­track vocational education sys­ tem which follows the German model. She also advises businesses, schools and university on how to create the necessary structures. Her job is funded through the Skills Experts programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Cli­ mate Action. Depending on their chosen direction of travel, young people have good prospects with German companies in Turkey. If on the other hand they want to make their career in Germany, their quali­ fication will make it easy for them to gain a foot­ hold there. “Turkey has huge demographic poten­ tial,” says Dr Thilo Pahl, head of the AHK. Twenty million young people in Turkey go to school com­ pared to Germany’s eight million – and the two countries’ populations are roughly the same. 51

T R A I N I N G A R O U N D T H E W O R L D Language course and intercultural training GIZ is working closely with government ministries and employment agencies in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia and with the Federal Employment Agency in Germany. The first step involves the Federal Employment Agency and local agencies selecting candidates and putting them in touch with com­ panies in Germany. Support for the young people continues after they get to Germany, such as through introductory workshops and consulta­ tions. In the period since 2020 THAMM has helped 700 potential jobseekers from 3 countries to prepare for migration, such as by offering lan­ guage courses to B1 level and intercultural train­ ing. Within Germany the project has thus far placed 412 apprentices and skilled workers in training positions or employment. The state of Thuringia is also targeting recruiting workers to the skilled crafts and trades with its EU­funded CRAFT project. As part of the project, the Erfurt Chamber of Commerce is helping busi­ nesses find trainees and skilled workers interna­ tionally. CRAFT is focusing on Vietnam, Georgia, Moldova and Kazakhstan. Young people aged be­ tween 18 and 27 get the chance to apply for an apprenticeship or even for a job businesses in Thuringia. Places on the scheme are awarded in partnership with vocational and language schools, secondary schools and universities, and with government ministries and embassies in the applicants’ countries of origin. The success of international training initiatives like Skills Experts, THAMM and CRAFT depends on levels of awareness and acceptance for dual two track training options in the countries concerned. With this in mind, the APAL project focuses on building training partnerships in Latin America so as to intervene at an early stage and inform young people about this career pathway. APAL prepares school students and alumni of German “PASCH” schools abroad from El Salvador and Mexico for two­track training in Germany. PASCH is an initiative by the Federal Foreign Office in co­ operation with the German Central Agency for Schools Abroad, the Goethe­Institut, the German Academic Exchange Service and the Educational Exchange Service. Since 2021 PASCH, the Goethe­Institut Mexico, the Federal Employment Agency and hospitals in various German cities have worked hand­in­hand with APAL. The pro­ gramme provides skilled nurses and workers in medical technology careers. Numerous projects provide German courses and training to ensure migrants have the language skills and cultural understanding they need to make a successful start in Germany. 53

F A C T S & F I G U R E S Demand for skilled workers is especially high in: healthcare and the skilled crafts and trades More and more foreign vocational qualifica- tions can now be recognised in Germany. 42,462 26,235 52,300 In particular nursing and geriatric care, specialist medical staff, construction, and metal construction. There are also shortages in childcare, automotive engi- neering, IT, hospitality, catering, commercial drivers, and bus drivers. 2016 2019 2022 In Germany, most of the conventional skilled profes- sions require legal recognition of professional qualifications. Source: Federal Statistical Office 157,924 152,336 119,496 97,292 The number of work visas is- sued has recovered since the pandemic and gone on to reach new record levels. 60,945 Source: Federal Foreign Office 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 “Attracting enough skilled workers is vital to the economic success of this country. We know the key ingredients for this: the right training opportunities, attractive working conditions, modern immigration law, and close cooperation between businesses and educational institutions.” FINANCE MINISTER ROBERT HABECK 5555