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| Needing Skilled Workers, a Booming Germany Woos Immigrants | Needing Skilled Workers, a Booming Germany Woos Immigrants |
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| BERLIN — After just a few months in Germany, Cristina Torres knows she would like to stay here in Berlin, where her husband is studying global production engineering and their 21-month-old daughter can grow up in safety. | BERLIN — After just a few months in Germany, Cristina Torres knows she would like to stay here in Berlin, where her husband is studying global production engineering and their 21-month-old daughter can grow up in safety. |
| Ms. Torres, 24, said she loved living without fear of the violence that was a daily threat in her hometown, Veracruz, Mexico. And Germany, she said, has done much to make her family feel welcome. Her husband, who spoke German before they arrived, is here on a scholarship program that Germany runs to encourage bright foreigners to study in the country. The program entitles Ms. Torres to learn German at no cost and could yield permission for her family to stay for good. | |
| Like most wealthy countries, Germany has deep concerns about immigration, fueled by racial and cultural tensions, costs and evolving definitions of national identity. But more than the rest of Europe, its healthy economy needs additional workers, especially for jobs requiring high levels of training and education, a problem likely to be exacerbated in the long run by its low birthrate. Right now Germany is trying to fill 117,000 jobs in science, technology and engineering, a gap that may widen to as many as one million by 2020, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. | Like most wealthy countries, Germany has deep concerns about immigration, fueled by racial and cultural tensions, costs and evolving definitions of national identity. But more than the rest of Europe, its healthy economy needs additional workers, especially for jobs requiring high levels of training and education, a problem likely to be exacerbated in the long run by its low birthrate. Right now Germany is trying to fill 117,000 jobs in science, technology and engineering, a gap that may widen to as many as one million by 2020, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. |
| So Germany, once a relatively homogeneous society that long struggled to assimilate immigrants and refugees from Turkey and other relatively poor countries, is competing more aggressively with the United States, Britain and other nations to attract and keep educated people from abroad who can help crucial industries. Since 2005, but especially over the past three to five years, Germany has eased rules recognizing foreign qualifications, granting residence permits for skilled foreigners and in depicting Germany as a land of migration. | So Germany, once a relatively homogeneous society that long struggled to assimilate immigrants and refugees from Turkey and other relatively poor countries, is competing more aggressively with the United States, Britain and other nations to attract and keep educated people from abroad who can help crucial industries. Since 2005, but especially over the past three to five years, Germany has eased rules recognizing foreign qualifications, granting residence permits for skilled foreigners and in depicting Germany as a land of migration. |
| “Immigrants,” noted Axel Plünnecke, a professor at the Cologne Institute who specializes in the effects of the population gap, “are really important to fill the shortage of workers.” There is now “a political consensus that immigration helps Germany and is really good and useful,” he said. | “Immigrants,” noted Axel Plünnecke, a professor at the Cologne Institute who specializes in the effects of the population gap, “are really important to fill the shortage of workers.” There is now “a political consensus that immigration helps Germany and is really good and useful,” he said. |
| Given its status as the largest economy in Europe, Germany is also attracting the most immigrants — a record net gain of 400,000 last year. Typically, according to the Berlin Institute for Population and Development, 35 percent of immigrants are now more likely to have a bachelor’s or higher degree, compared with 20 percent of Germans. | Given its status as the largest economy in Europe, Germany is also attracting the most immigrants — a record net gain of 400,000 last year. Typically, according to the Berlin Institute for Population and Development, 35 percent of immigrants are now more likely to have a bachelor’s or higher degree, compared with 20 percent of Germans. |
| Germany is still sending some mixed signals about immigration. This month the European Court of Justice ruled against a provision of the country’s immigration law that required the spouses of Turkish immigrants to show proficiency in German before they could qualify for a visa. | Germany is still sending some mixed signals about immigration. This month the European Court of Justice ruled against a provision of the country’s immigration law that required the spouses of Turkish immigrants to show proficiency in German before they could qualify for a visa. |
| Reiner Klingholz, head of the Berlin Institute, said Germany still had work to do to attract foreigners. “Germany has to position itself still more strongly as a land of immigration and make its ‘welcome culture’ a matter of course,” he said. | Reiner Klingholz, head of the Berlin Institute, said Germany still had work to do to attract foreigners. “Germany has to position itself still more strongly as a land of immigration and make its ‘welcome culture’ a matter of course,” he said. |
| Among the group of six foreigners studying German with Ms. Torres at a city-run college in central Berlin, the only one who voiced some hesitation about the welcome she had received was Pilar Okenve Ramos, 34, who was born in Spain and whose father hails from Equatorial Guinea. She is finishing her doctorate in biochemistry and moved to Berlin to be with her boyfriend, who works for Transparency International, an anticorruption organization. | Among the group of six foreigners studying German with Ms. Torres at a city-run college in central Berlin, the only one who voiced some hesitation about the welcome she had received was Pilar Okenve Ramos, 34, who was born in Spain and whose father hails from Equatorial Guinea. She is finishing her doctorate in biochemistry and moved to Berlin to be with her boyfriend, who works for Transparency International, an anticorruption organization. |
| “I’m black, I’m Spanish and a woman,” Ms. Ramos said. “I’ve never had any problem. I would like to stay here. I really like this place, but I think they need to change a little bit.” She was reluctant to elaborate, but eventually made it clear that some foreign friends and acquaintances of African origin had experienced prejudice. She phrased it this way: “They need us, but we see that some part of the people here don’t see that.” | “I’m black, I’m Spanish and a woman,” Ms. Ramos said. “I’ve never had any problem. I would like to stay here. I really like this place, but I think they need to change a little bit.” She was reluctant to elaborate, but eventually made it clear that some foreign friends and acquaintances of African origin had experienced prejudice. She phrased it this way: “They need us, but we see that some part of the people here don’t see that.” |
| Everyone else in the group — an Israeli artist, a Spanish graphic designer, a Russian Tatar lawyer here for breast cancer treatment, Ms. Torres, and a Parisian woman who had abandoned the multinational corporate life in Bangkok to make experimental music — expressed positive views of Germany, noting that Berlin, as the capital, is cosmopolitan but still relatively cheap. All said they could manage everyday life speaking English, but felt that German would be needed if they really wanted to make a life here. Most pay up to 150 euros, or about $200, for a 10-week course, meeting five times a week, for four hours a day. | Everyone else in the group — an Israeli artist, a Spanish graphic designer, a Russian Tatar lawyer here for breast cancer treatment, Ms. Torres, and a Parisian woman who had abandoned the multinational corporate life in Bangkok to make experimental music — expressed positive views of Germany, noting that Berlin, as the capital, is cosmopolitan but still relatively cheap. All said they could manage everyday life speaking English, but felt that German would be needed if they really wanted to make a life here. Most pay up to 150 euros, or about $200, for a 10-week course, meeting five times a week, for four hours a day. |
| In Germany’s effort to lure foreigners, there have been some mishaps. In the spring, news reports chronicled the plight of 128 Spaniards lured at their own expense to the eastern city of Erfurt by a private agency, which did little beyond putting them up in dormitory-like conditions in a former East German job-training center. Most of them were eventually absorbed by government-run programs. | In Germany’s effort to lure foreigners, there have been some mishaps. In the spring, news reports chronicled the plight of 128 Spaniards lured at their own expense to the eastern city of Erfurt by a private agency, which did little beyond putting them up in dormitory-like conditions in a former East German job-training center. Most of them were eventually absorbed by government-run programs. |
| A government program started last year to try to attract people — particularly young southern Europeans — to jobs in hotels, catering or caring for the older people, ran into problems in April. | A government program started last year to try to attract people — particularly young southern Europeans — to jobs in hotels, catering or caring for the older people, ran into problems in April. |
| Some 9,000 people had applied for financial assistance under the program, around half from Spain. Alarmed that the government had no money, the Labor Ministry hastily sent letters urging patience to applicants. | Some 9,000 people had applied for financial assistance under the program, around half from Spain. Alarmed that the government had no money, the Labor Ministry hastily sent letters urging patience to applicants. |
| Eventually, the ministry said it had secured financial aid for all those who applied before April 8. Rules for 2015 to 2018 are still being negotiated, but Germany, the only European Union member offering such a program, is now set to spend about $760 million, more than four times the originally budgeted amount, the Labor Ministry said. | Eventually, the ministry said it had secured financial aid for all those who applied before April 8. Rules for 2015 to 2018 are still being negotiated, but Germany, the only European Union member offering such a program, is now set to spend about $760 million, more than four times the originally budgeted amount, the Labor Ministry said. |
| A study prepared for the federal migration office suggested that about 20,000 Spaniards moved to Germany from 2011 to 2013. Figures for Greece and Portugal, both also hit hard during the euro crisis, are thought to be similar. | A study prepared for the federal migration office suggested that about 20,000 Spaniards moved to Germany from 2011 to 2013. Figures for Greece and Portugal, both also hit hard during the euro crisis, are thought to be similar. |
| Germany, famed for its system of combining work experience with academic study, is seeking to extend that approach to immigrants. But officials say they are worried that 20 percent of Germany’s pupils leave school without qualifications needed for an apprenticeship, with anecdotal evidence suggesting many of them have a Turkish or other migrant background. | Germany, famed for its system of combining work experience with academic study, is seeking to extend that approach to immigrants. But officials say they are worried that 20 percent of Germany’s pupils leave school without qualifications needed for an apprenticeship, with anecdotal evidence suggesting many of them have a Turkish or other migrant background. |
| The Association of German Employers said it had tried since 2004 to ensure 60,000 new job openings with training in 30,000 enterprises of all sizes. With the economy still growing, those goals have been exceeded, but for the past six years there have been more apprentice jobs available than qualified candidates to fill them. Nationwide, unemployment is 5.2 percent, compared with 11.8 percent over all in the 18-nation eurozone. | The Association of German Employers said it had tried since 2004 to ensure 60,000 new job openings with training in 30,000 enterprises of all sizes. With the economy still growing, those goals have been exceeded, but for the past six years there have been more apprentice jobs available than qualified candidates to fill them. Nationwide, unemployment is 5.2 percent, compared with 11.8 percent over all in the 18-nation eurozone. |
| Among the biggest trainers are the engineering giant Siemens, Germany’s famed automakers, the state railway network Deutsche Bahn and the telecommunications specialist Deutsche Telekom. To know what they are getting in a hire, these companies mostly need to train in Germany, noted Professor Plünnecke. About 85 percent of the nearly $300 million that Siemens spends annually training workers is spent in Germany, where some 10,000 people a year enter dual tracks for on-the-job experience combined with a bachelor’s degree, said Michael Friedrich, a Siemens spokesman. | Among the biggest trainers are the engineering giant Siemens, Germany’s famed automakers, the state railway network Deutsche Bahn and the telecommunications specialist Deutsche Telekom. To know what they are getting in a hire, these companies mostly need to train in Germany, noted Professor Plünnecke. About 85 percent of the nearly $300 million that Siemens spends annually training workers is spent in Germany, where some 10,000 people a year enter dual tracks for on-the-job experience combined with a bachelor’s degree, said Michael Friedrich, a Siemens spokesman. |
| But Siemens has started similar programs in the United States and Britain, he said. Some 1,000 young people a year from Siemens plants in Britain, Hungary and Spain come for training in Germany, and the company selects 30 promising Europeans a year for a three-and-a-half-year program that involves a final exam in German before the trainees return to Siemens jobs at home. In all, Siemens employs 360,000 people worldwide, with fewer than half (117,000) in Germany. | But Siemens has started similar programs in the United States and Britain, he said. Some 1,000 young people a year from Siemens plants in Britain, Hungary and Spain come for training in Germany, and the company selects 30 promising Europeans a year for a three-and-a-half-year program that involves a final exam in German before the trainees return to Siemens jobs at home. In all, Siemens employs 360,000 people worldwide, with fewer than half (117,000) in Germany. |
| Over all, the interchange of skills and labor — particularly in higher-end jobs — and the fact that some 30 percent of the 650,000 to 700,000 births a year in Germany are to immigrants mean that one of every two new German citizens has foreign roots, Professor Plünnecke said. | Over all, the interchange of skills and labor — particularly in higher-end jobs — and the fact that some 30 percent of the 650,000 to 700,000 births a year in Germany are to immigrants mean that one of every two new German citizens has foreign roots, Professor Plünnecke said. |
| Whether all of the job opportunity and greater openness to foreigners will add up to a completely new life for Cristina Torres is unclear. Her daughter, though, is prepared. “Already, she says only ‘tschüss,’ ” German for “bye bye,” Ms. Torres said. “She forgot ‘hola’ and ‘adios.’ ” | Whether all of the job opportunity and greater openness to foreigners will add up to a completely new life for Cristina Torres is unclear. Her daughter, though, is prepared. “Already, she says only ‘tschüss,’ ” German for “bye bye,” Ms. Torres said. “She forgot ‘hola’ and ‘adios.’ ” |