As one of the European Union’s leading economies, Germany has continued to attract a large number of foreign workers, granting a large number of visas for employment purposes in the last few years.
To meet its dynamic job market needs, Germany granted a total of 579,000 work visas to foreign nationals from the beginning of 2021 until the end of 2024, Schengen.News reports.
In this four-year period, the lowest number of visas for employment purposes was issued in 2021. In contrast, the largest number of work visas was issued in 2024, indicating the growing need in Germany for more foreign workers.
Data show that in 2021, Germany granted 97,000 work visas. Due to the sharp labour shortages, the number of granted work visas increased significantly in 2022, with the country issuing 152,000 visas for employment purposes during this year.
The need for foreign workers continued to remain relatively the same in 2023, during which Germany granted 158,000 work visas and it reached the highest level of this four-year period in 2024, during which Germany granted a total of 172,000 work visas.
While when doing a year-on-year comparison the increase in the number of issued work visas might not seem so high, the rise is evident when comparing 2021 to 2024. As data reveal, Germany granted around 77 per cent more visas for employment purposes in 2024 compared to 2021.
Germany Is a Country of Immigration & Must Remain So, Interior Minister Says
Presenting a review of the migration policy during the past legislative period, the Minister of Interior of Germany, Nancy Faeser, displayed contentment with the measures that the country has taken to attract foreign workers.
In her address, Minister Faeser said that Germany has increased skilled immigration to the country by 77 per cent since 2021.
We have increased skilled immigration by 77 per cent since 2021. Today, we are a country that invests more in integration and is more attractive to talented and qualified workers and skilled workers from all over the world.
Minister Faeser further stressed that Germany is a country of immigration and must remain so, and at the same time, said that foreign workers are crucial for the future viability of Germany.
While the Minister applauded the work that has been done so far to attract foreign workers, applicants have been expressing concerns about the bureaucratic hurdles they face during the visa application process.
Foreign workers often complain about the procedures, saying that the visa processing times are very long, leaving with to wait months for a response.