Germany’s Labour Migration Increased by 19% in 2022

Data show that at the end of 2022, around 351,000 non-EU nationals who had a temporary residence title for employment purposes were registered in the Central Register of Foreigners.

Such a number represents a substantial increase compared to the last 15 years, especially compared to 2007 when the country registered only 76,800 foreigners with the title, AtoZSerwisPlus.de reports.

According to Destatis, the number of labour migrants entering Germany from non-EU countries had risen consistently since 2010, when it stood at around 85,000. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the year-on-year increase in 2020 and 2021 was small.

“The number of labour migrants who came to Germany from non-EU countries has risen steadily since 2010 when it stood at 85,000. In 2020 and 2021, the years severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the year-on-year increase was relatively small (2021: +21,000 people or +8 per cent; 2020: +16,000 people or +6 per cent),” the statement of Destatis reads.

On the other hand, it has been emphasised that in 2022, the number of labour migrants increased by 56,000 or 19 per cent as a result of the COVID restrictions being lifted.

In addition to the above-mentioned, Destatis further disclosed that 25 per cent of those who got a temporary residence title for employment purposes in 2022 did so on the basis of the EU Blue Card.

Moreover, 18 per cent of foreigners who got the temporary residence title did so under the Western Balkans regulation, another 12 per cent were skilled workers with vocational training, and 11 per cent were skilled workers with academic training.

Despite Germany registering a high number of foreigners entering the country for work purposes, a new study by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research just recently showed that the worker shortage had reached an all-time high level.

The study has shown that there are currently over 630,000 job positions in Germany that need to be filled.

In order to help the country deal with the labour shortage, Germany has already announced some changes it plans on making to its Skilled Workers Immigration Act.

The German government said that it plans to cut bureaucratic procedures, make its EU Blue Card more easily accessible, and allow nationals of third countries to work in their field of expertise without requiring to undergo formal procedures for the recognition of their degree and professional qualifications.