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Eight things Germany can do to attract (and keep) international talent

What can Germany and its employers do to attract and make life better for internationals who work there? Here are eight key ways suggested by The Local readers.

Published: 2 July 2019 16:42 CEST
Updated: 12 February 2020 13:28 CET

Eight things Germany can do to attract (and keep) international talent

How can Germany attract more foreign workers? Photo: Depositphotos/Rawpixel

1. Stop focusing on perfect German

A common theme touched on by readers was language. If Germany wants to replenish its workforce, it has to relax the need for its international workers to speak German without any mistakes.

That’s according to the majority of The Local readers who responded to our survey on working life in Germany. They said German firms place too much emphasis on the language – even when fluency is not needed for the job.

“German companies must understand that most of the expat candidates already speak two to three languages perfectly and on top of that they cannot expect the candidates to master the German language fast,” said one of The Local’s readers. “This is unrealistic.”

The reader explained how one of his Russian friends was asked to leave a firm because her German was deemed not good enough after two years.

“She is amazingly talented but her contract was not renewed,” he said. “This obsession with language skills has to go out if German companies want good international candidates.”

A respondent to our survey has experienced similar difficulties with potential employers.

“As a job hunter I am really struggling with the language,” the reader said. “Every recruiter, even international companies, are rejecting me only because of language criteria.”

This reader suggested that recruiters “could be more liberal with the language criteria during recruitment”.

Another respondent said firms needed to “understand that not every international is capable of learning German” but that they should be promoted anyway if they excel in other skills.

According to The Local's career coach Chris Pyak, only 1% of German companies hire candidates in English yet there are many jobs out there for English speakers.

2. Become more foreign-language friendly

On a similar note, respondents said although many Germans speak English, the country could embrace this even more – and be open to other foreign languages.

Germany should “become more English-language friendly,” one reader told us. Another said Germany could make life better for internationals by “being more flexible with the English language and being more international”.

Some readers said to attract more international workers, authorities could offer services in a range of languages.

They pointed out that there is no option for multiple languages in services such as telephone service helplines, for example for most banks, and in offices such as the Finanzamt or Bürgeramt.

“All cities should adopt the option for foreigners to do administrative tasks in English,” said another reader.

A respondent also pointed that in companies there is “little information in English, procedures and policies are all in German and not shared or explained to international employees”.

“There are many international people living in Germany,” added another reader. “I think at least some of the official paperwork which people face in daily life should have an English version.”

Another reader said there should be a “cultural change to accept and offer more English speaking positions”.

Photo: Depositphotos/monkeybusiness

3. Offer free German lessons

On the topic of languages, some readers said firms who want to attract foreign workers should offer more free language lessons to create a sense of community and improve skills.

One respondent told The Local that it can be very difficult for non-native German speakers to integrate into working-life culture and language courses could help with that.

4. Focus on what internationals CAN do not what they can’t

Many of our readers felt the obstacles internationals face when coming to work in Germany – like trying to gain the right to work and live in the Bundesrepublik or lack of language skills – are focused on by employers rather than what international people can bring to the country.

This results in Germany missing out on incredible talent and skills from abroad, they argued.

A reader told us: “My recommendation would be that the companies must focus on candidates' positives rather than the negatives. And focus on what they can do rather that what they cannot do.”

Another respondent added: “Give access to upper management roles for internationals and a growth path irrespective of nationality.”

5. Streamline processes and become more modern

Although some readers praised Germany’s “fair rules” for working and residence permits such as the Blue Card, they also pointed out that the process of getting these permits and visas was often stressful.

One reader said government offices, especially the Ausländerbehörde (the immigration authority) “are a nightmare for foreigners”, a sentiment shared by many non-Germans.

As The Local reported, the Bundestag passed a new package of laws on June 7th, aimed at attracting foreign skilled vocational workers, including those from outside the EU, and promises them eased visa procedures.

They are being created in a bid to address the shortage of skilled workers in many regions and industries across Germany. The law is aimed at both foreign citizens who have applied for asylum in Germany and to those applying for a work visa.

And it looks like reform of immigration rules is badly need. A reader told The Local: “There needs to be less red tape in Germany!”

Respondents said Germany should “reduce the amount of bureaucracy” international workers face and try and develop shorter waiting times and less long and drawn-out processes to get visas.

A reader also pointed out that Germany was “extremely bureaucratic and 20th century old-school considering that fax and post is the main way of communication”.

Many international people in Germany find visits to the Ausländerbehörde stressful. Photo: DPA

In fact Germany's arguable reluctance to embrace the digital world fully was touched on by other Local readers too. A respondent to our survey said registration (Anmeldung) plus “all other bureaucratic processes” should be digitalized in every city and state.

6. Tackle discrimination and work-based racism

Germany's tolerance for foreigners – in general, not just in the workplace – is an issue under the spotlight, not least because of the rise of anti-immigration rhetoric pushed by political parties such as Alternative for Germany (AfD), and movements such as Pegida in recent years.

Many of our readers raised issues of racism and discrimination in the workplace despite EU anti-discrimination laws. It led to calls for tougher laws and enforcement of rules.

“The government has to make stricter laws against racism,” one reader said.

Another said employers needed to become more familiar with laws and make sure they have “solid processes” in place to tackle issues if they arise.

7. Workplaces need to become more diverse

This is something The Local readers believe could help fight discrimination and make working places in Germany more inclusive and foreigner-friendly.

One reader said recruiters should actively try and get people from different backgrounds, minorities and abilities on board.

“They need to think outside the box and recruit different kinds of people,” said the respondent to our survey.

“German workplaces have to become more diverse,” said another. “Or they’ll never compete on a global scale.”

Another respondent said firms “have to loosen up a lot” because there's a lot of global talent out there that they’re missing out on.

8. Provide help on practical matters

Another point that internationals highlighted was practical matters such as getting a place to stay, registering in Germany and setting up things like health insurance.

Respondents to our survey said workplaces could offer more support to expats on these matters.

There should be “more awareness about integration programmes” and how to get involved with them, said one reader. Another said employers could “provide support for international people to integrate well at work”.

Respondents also said initiatives such as the Mietpreisbremse (rent control law) plus improved health services and “availability of doctors” nationwide would help attract more workers to Germany.

Just under 40 people responded to The Local Germany's survey in April.

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The best-paid jobs you can get without a university degree in Germany

One of the reasons so many people decide to move to Germany is to take advantage of the healthy jobs market and decent salaries. In 2024, the average worker in the Bundesrepublik was taking home €51,900 per year before tax, and in many sectors the average is even higher.

But if you don’t have a university degree or professional qualification, you may feel like you’re limited to jobs at the bottom of the ladder and doomed to take a lower salary than you’re worth.

But there are plenty of fields with high earning potential that have relatively low barriers to entry. Which is good news for many, considering that the number of school drop-outs is rising in Germany.

Here are some of the best-paid jobs you can find in Germany that don’t require endless years of studying or training.

Real estate agent

If you think you can sell anything to anyone and love the idea of closing big deals, becoming a real estate agent – or realtor in American English – could be the way to go.

This varied job involves advising and supporting your clients in their search for a dream property, hosting viewings, creating advertising materials and contracts and ensuring all the relevant transactions go through. It’s ideal for anyone with good attention to detail and warm, sociable personality.

A miniature house with new house keys.

A miniature house with new house keys. Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

There’s no special training or qualification required to become a real estate agent, but in Germany you do need to apply for a licence known as a Maklererlaubnis to start practising.

Once you get going, you can earn between three and seven percent commission on the sale price of each property you sell. Of course, you final salary will depend on your success rate and the property market in your area, but Stufyflix puts the average at around €3,930 per month.

U-Bahn or tram driver

Though you may not notice them most days, public transport drivers keep life moving in German cities – and they tend to be pretty well remunerated as well.

Generally, you’ll be responsible for working shifts driving trams or U-Bahns around the city, helping people get from A to B and responding appropriately in the case of an emergency.

A big advantage of moving into this profession is that you generally only need around B1 or B2 German: it’s more important to hold a driving licence and show a willingness to learn.

Another great thing to note is that these jobs are heavily unionised. Many tram and bus drivers will tell you that it’s no easy job, but at least you’ve got a union fighting to improve your pay and conditions.

For people looking to change careers, the good news is that the initial training only lasts around six months, and you’ll earn a liveable salary between €2,100 and €2,800 during this period.

After that, salaries depend on location but tend to average around €40,000 per year, with bonuses for working nights, weekends and public holidays.

Software developer

With average salaries around €5,800 per month, the IT sector is one of the most lucrative fields in the German job market.

The best part is, you don’t need a degree in computer science to get a job as a programmer in today’s market. In fact, many start-ups are happy to offer jobs – with generous starting salaries – to self-taught programmers or people who have graduated three-month bootcamps.

If you’re currently unemployed, many of these fast-track courses are paid for by the job centre, so you can learn to be a software developer completely for free. Otherwise, there are plenty of online courses you can take on websites like Udemy or books you can buy to learn languages like C+, Python and Ruby at next to no expense whatsoever.

Carpenter

Though carpenters do generally need one or two years of training, the great thing about this type of hands-on field is that you can enter as an apprentice and get paid to work while you train.

There are several different types of carpentry, from building shelving units for industrial buildings to erecting the bare bones of a residential property.

A carpenter sands down a block of wood in Cologne. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Federico Gambarini

Asking friends and colleagues to recommend a trustworthy builder is a good option. (Photo by Nasim ISAMOV / AFP)

If you’re good with your hands, love being physical active and overcoming technical challenges, carpentry could be a great career for you – and the money’s nothing to sniff at either.

Once qualified, the average carpenter in Germany earns around €43,700 per year, but this can rise to as much as €52,000. And with Germany battling a severe shortages of skilled carpenters, salaries are bound to keep rising in the coming years.

Administrative assistant

If you’re someone who likes to stay organised and presentable, then moving into a career as an administrative assistant could be the ideal move for you.

Though the specifics of the job depend on the company, most administrative assistants spend their days making sure everything in the office ticks over as it should, answering the phone, distributing memos, organising appointments, preparing reports and carrying out other important administrative tasks. In Germany, of course, you may also need to be proficient in the use of a fax machine.

Though there’s no formal qualifications or training required to become an admin assistant, you’ll need to show you have the qualities and skills required, including good organisation, excellent communication skills, the ability to multitask and strong attention to detail.

According to jobs portal WorkerHero, administrative assistants earn an average of €41,730 per year in Germany, but if you end up as a personal assistant to a high-powered corporate executive, the pay can go much higher.

Bank clerk

If you’ve got a good head for numbers and enjoy offering advice and assistance, transitioning into banking could be a sensible – and lucrative – career move.

Generally, you’ll need to do a traineeship with a bank to break into this field, but no degree is required – and once in there are good chances for progression.

Interestingly, the banking sector is one area of the economy where skilled workers are desperately needed, so get your foot in the door now and you’ll be in a great position to negotiate salaries later.

A sign for Postbank, one of the major banks in Germany.

A sign for Postbank, one of the major banks in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Marijan Murat

According to job search portal Indeed, the average bank clerk in Germany earns a very respectable €45,500 per year, but that can go up depending on the bank you work for and your specialisms.

If you work your way up the ladder, the pay goes up incredibly quickly, with some bank managers earning as much as €75,000 per year.

Events planner

Though events planning is no easy ride, it can be a huge buzz for people who thrive under pressure and enjoy the satisfaction of pulling off a dream wedding or a major corporate event.

People with impeccable organisation skills, a sociable attitude and naturally elegant taste will find themselves well-suited to this career, and the best part is that no formal qualifications are needed – though taking a short course could help you learn the ropes faster.

Once you’re underway and working with clients, the sky’s the limit to how much you can earn: some of the best paid wedding and events planners earn as much as €100,000 per year.

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