German authorities are recognising more foreign qualifications than ever before, new figures show.
Getting a professional qualification from abroad recognised in Germany can be a long and taxing process for skilled workers.
But things may be starting to move a bit quicker, at least that’s what new figures suggest.
The number of foreign professional qualifications recognised in Germany has more than tripled since nationwide recording began in 2016, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
In 2024, German authorities approved 79,100 applications from skilled workers – an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year when 65,300 qualifications were recognised.
Qualifications obtained in a non-EU country generally have to be formally recognised before a foreign worker can practise their profession in Germany.
This applies to several jobs such as doctors, teachers and engineers.
German leaders have been trying to speed up the process because of the skilled worker shortage that is causing havoc in several industries, and prompting future fears about the economy.
One area that has sped things up is allowing people to apply to have their certificates reognised online.
READ ALSO: How Germany wants to speed up recognition of qualifications
Other factors include the ‘accelerated skilled worker procedure’. Under this system, 4,900 professional qualifications from skilled workers from abroad were recognised in 2024.
A total of 59 percent of all positive applications were submitted by women and 41 percent by men. Of the recognised qualifications, 83 percent were regulated under federal law and 17 percent under state law.
In 2024, most recognition procedures in Germany involved federally regulated professions, such as nursing. About 20 percent fell under state regulation, covering jobs like teaching.
Another key distinction is between regulated and unregulated professions. Doctors, nurses and engineers need proof of specific qualifications, as these fields are tightly regulated.
Meanwhile, those in unregulated professions, such as cooks and electrical engineers, can work without state recognition. Still, some people apply for it anyway to boost their chances on the job market.
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Where are most qualifications coming from?
Statistics from 2024 show that Turkey is the most represented country of origin with 9,200 recognitions initially acquired there.
Ukraine follows with 6,400 recognitions, a figure that has doubled compared to the previous year.
Tunisia (5,300), India (4,900), and Syria (4,300) were also high up on the list.
In contrast, the number of recognised qualifications acquired in Bosnia-Herzegovina (4,000) and the Philippines (3,600) declined, slipping from second and third place to sixth and seventh in 2024.
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A skilled worker from abroad works an an industrial plant in Baden-Württemberg. Photo: picture alliance / Christoph Schmidt/dpa | Christoph Schmidt
Which jobs are represented?
The top five most frequently recognised occupations remained virtually unchanged in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Nursing remained in first place with 32,500 recognitions and a share of 41 percent of all qualifications.
Doctors came in second with 11,000 recognitions – a 14 percent share of the total. This was followed by 4,400 recognitions in the fields of engineering, teaching (2,800) and physiotherapy (2,200).
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How bad is Germany’s skilled worker shortage?
According to economists Germany is dependent on foreign skilled workers because almost a third of the working population will retire in the next 15 years and there are not enough young workers to replace them.
“In the long term, this will put pressure on social security systems because more people will have to be supported by fewer contributors and taxpayers,” said Stefan Kooths from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW).
Experts say Germany needs around 400,000 skilled workers each year to fill vacancies.
READ ALSO: Germany’s skilled worker shortage intensifies through industries