Employment in Germany
Economy
Germany has been relatively late to adapt the industrial revolution that started in the United Kingdom. Remarkably, after WWII there has been significant economic success, also referred to as the ‘Wirtschaftswunder’. This created millions of jobs. When ranked by GDP, Germany is now the fourth largest economy in the world. Germany is an important exporter of machinery, vehicles and chemicals. It is the world’s third largest exporter, after China and the United States.
Demography
Germany has some 84 million inhabitants (2022), this makes it the most populous country in the European Union. Over 20 million inhabitants can be regarded as of immigrant descent. Over 90% of these immigrants live in the western part of Germany. Berlin is the largest city with 3.5 million people and home to the largest Turkish community in the world, after Istanbul and Ankara.
Migration
In the 1960s the German industry was booming and workers were needed to keep the factories functioning and expanding. The first workers came from Italy, Greece and Turkey. Some 14% of immigrants are of Turkish descent. Germany defines itself as an ‘immigrant country’. Germany has been instrumental in the formation of the EU Blue Card and the specific focus the Blue Card has on highly skilled professionals.
Employment
Before the Eastern part of Germany was reunited with the Western part, East Germany was called the DDR and had full employment. After joining the West, the Eastern economy was mostly privatized, this led to an extensive loss of jobs. The 2008 financial crisis had its impact on the German economy, but the unemployment rate remained under seven percent. As with many Western countries, Germany suffers from a lack of workers, especially those educated and skilled in technical professions.
Working in Germany
Germany is a founding member of the European Union and a key initiator of the EU Blue Card.
Germany considers skilled immigration as the answer to maintain its advanced social systems.
Immigration Office
Government agency for Employment