Germany needs 1.5 million immigrants a year

Monika Schnitzer, head of the German government’s Council of Economic Experts and a professor at the Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, said Germany needs 1.5 million immigrants a year to close the shortage of skilled labor.

‘WE SHOULD NOT ASK THEM TO KNOW GERMAN’

Monika Schnitzer, in a statement to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, described the new skilled work law as a step in the right direction, but noted that more is needed.

Schnitzer said: “For example, immigration offices that do not discourage immigrants, but rather provide services. We should not require foreign professionals to know German for every job. Instead, we must make sure that the staff at the immigration office can speak English.”

Schnitzer said: “Germany needs 1.5 million immigrants a year to have a new skilled labor force of 400,000 people every year.”

WELCOME CULTURE

Noting that Germany urgently needs a “culture of welcome”, Schnitzer said: “We urgently need a culture of hospitality. “Intel (US company) builds a factory in Magdeburg and wants to attract skilled foreign workers, they need to feel welcome there.”

Schnitzer, who wants girls and women to get more involved in technical subjects, said: “Because there is a shortage of qualified personnel in the professions of mathematics, computers, natural sciences and technology. Companies also have to keep their older employees happy so they don’t retire early. As research shows, job satisfaction is an important factor in retaining employees.” she performed her assessment. (AA)