For years Germany has been facing a growing crisis, trying to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs with a dwindling population. Now it is turning to migrants and those still living abroad to try and fill positions and keep society moving.
Germany is urgently seeking workers from abroad — at least 400,000 each year. But is it an attractive destination for highly qualified foreigners? For some, it seems, having to learn the German language puts them off.
A new study from the University of Vienna has found that migrants tend to work in precarious jobs at a far higher rate than other citizens. 13% earn so little that they cannot support themselves, despite working, the study found.
Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum has said that new accords are needed with Europe in order to manage migration properly. He has called for quotas linked to the needs of the job market in Europe.
Are well-paid jobs in the EU really that easy and quick to find? Many smugglers will tell you they are. But evidence shows that this claim is misleading.
Tunisia has been going through a severe economic and political crisis in the last few years. More than one out of three young persons is unemployed. The route to Europe, which is lacking qualified personnel in many sectors, seems like the only way forward.
The lack of qualified workers, predominantly caused by the departure of baby boomers from the job market, is making economists in Europe fear huge economic losses in the future. Like many other countries, Germany sees targeted migration as part of the solution. But there are still many obstacles in the way.
An official partnership was launched by the International Organitation for Migration (IOM) and the not-for-profit global organization Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) in an effort to channel qualified and talented migrants and refugees towards working opportunities.
Idris Hassan is an Iraqi Kurd. He arrived in Sicily in July 2022. Before that, he claims never to have been to Italy. He was living and working in Sweden, as a chef, before he was deported to Italy. His story is not the only case like this, say those who work at the reception center where he is living.
The Statistical Migration report for 2022 from the research center IDOS, reveals that migrants in Italy produce wealth for the country, while they keep getting poorer and remain excluded from social services.
The Sicilian region is working hard to try and crack down on the exploitation of migrant agricultural workers by the so-called gangmaster (caporalato) system. Several campaigns aim at bestowing more rights on migrant workers and encouraging integration.
Germany is planning to tackle its critical shortage of skilled labor by introducing its version of a 'green card.' It will supposedly make it easier for non-European Union nationals to come to find work.