Around a fourth of nurses originate from foreign nations.
Got a care crisis on your hands, Deutschland? That's right! Nearly a fourth of nursing care workers in German nursing homes are foreign nationals, according to the Federal Employment Agency. Vanessa Ahuja, a spokeswoman from Nuremberg, aptly put it: "The care sector is swimming in a severe shortage of skilled workers, and it's only getting worse with demographic trends." To put it mildly, without foreign nursing care workers, the sector would be teetering on the brink of collapse today.
Over the past decade, the number of employees in the care sector has soared by a whopping 20 percent to hit 1.72 million, with this figure dwarfing the overall employment market's growth. For the third consecutive year, the surge in employment in care has been solely due to foreign workers. Today, they account for 18 percent of the total workforce.
So, what's the German government doing about it? Well, they've loosened the reins a bit to lure in nursing and care professionals from abroad. Here's a lowdown on the new rules and opportunities in place:
- Job Search Permit: Nursing and care assistants can apply for a residence permit to explore job opportunities in Germany. This permit, valid for up to 18 months, is a great starting point before they need a work visa.
- Softened Qualification Requirements: Skilled professionals in nursing, even without formal academic qualifications, can now enter the workforce more effortlessly. With at least two years of training and experience, they can work without needing their qualifications recognized in Germany.
- Digital Visa Portal: The advent of a digital visa portal streamlines the application process for work visas, including those for nursing and care professionals. This portal operates across all 167 German missions worldwide, making submission a breeze for international applicants.
- Increased Allowance for Secondary Employment: During their qualification or adaptation period, nursing care workers can engage in secondary employment for up to 20 hours per week to make ends meet while they're pursuing German qualifications or training.
Germany's broader immigration reforms aim to attract skilled workers across various sectors, including healthcare. The Skilled Immigration Act (FEG) has been updated to make it easier for foreign professionals, including those without university degrees in certain fields like IT, to enter the German labor market. However, for regulated professions like nursing, official recognition of qualifications is still necessary for long-term employment.
With an aging population and the EU's reliance on migrant caregivers, Germany's policies are designed to address workforce shortages while providing opportunities for international professionals to contribute to the healthcare sector. Win-win, ja? 😎🚀
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New Policies for International Nursing Care Workers
Relaxed Qualification Requirements:
Skilled professionals in nursing, including those without formal academic qualifications, can enter the workforce more easily in Germany.
Separate Job Search Permit:
Nursing and care assistants can apply for a residence permit to search for jobs in Germany before needing a work visa.
Simplified Application Process:
The introduction of a digital visa portal simplifies the application process for work visas, making it easier for international applicants to apply.
increased Allowance for Secondary Employment:
During their qualification or adaptation period, nursing care workers can engage in secondary employment for up to 20 hours per week, helping support themselves financially while pursuing German qualifications or training.
- The community of nursing care workers in Germany is significantly influenced by foreign nationals, making up a considerable 18 percent of the total workforce.
- As the use of technology advances in science, particularly in health-and-wellness, the need for nursing professionals is expected to continue growing.
- In an effort to tackle the employment shortage in the nursing sector, the German government has introduced policies like the Job Search Permit, relaxed qualification requirements, and a simplified application process through the digital visa portal.
- To facilitate financial stability among foreign nursing care workers during their qualification or adaptation period, there is an increased allowance for secondary employment of up to 20 hours per week.
