Germany is continuing to struggle with a shortage of skilled workers as elderly staff retire, and there are not enough young candidates to fill their roles. To try to alleviate the problem, the country is increasingly turning to workers from India.
For Handirk von Ungern-Sternberg, it started with an email that dropped into his inbox in February 2021. It had come from India. The gist of the message was: We have lots of young, motivated people looking for vocational training and we're wondering if you're interested.
Von Ungern-Sternberg was working for the Freiburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts, a trade body that represents skilled workers from various trades, when the email arrived at an opportune moment. Many employers were desperate, unable to find any workforce at all. So we decided to give it a chance, he recalls.
His first inquiry led him to the head of the local butchers' guild, as many butchers were facing significant recruitment challenges. The number of small, family-run butcher shops has drastically declined, highlighting the difficulty in attracting apprentices.
In late 2022, after initial discussions, 13 young Indians arrived in Germany to start their butchery apprenticeships. One of them, 21-year-old Anakha Miriam Shaji, expressed her excitement at moving to Germany for better opportunities. She aimed to improve her living standards and benefit from robust social security.
Three years later, the initiative has grown, and von Ungern-Sternberg launched his own agency called India Works, in partnership with Aditi Banerjee from Magic Billion. They have successfully recruited about 200 young Indian workers for various positions in Germany's labor market, including bakers and mechanics.
Even though the demographics present a challenge—Germany's population is aging—they are turning to India, which has a large youth population, to fill this gap. Currently, India has around 600 million people below 25, suggesting a substantial labor surplus that could be utilized.
In a significant move to facilitate this labor migration, Germany recently announced that it will drastically increase the skilled work visa quota for Indian citizens, fostering a stronger economic partnership.
As more young Indians find employment in Germany, they report satisfaction with their working conditions and the financial stability that allows them to support their families back home. This partnership showcases how evolving global labor dynamics can address population challenges and benefit both countries.
For Handirk von Ungern-Sternberg, it started with an email that dropped into his inbox in February 2021. It had come from India. The gist of the message was: We have lots of young, motivated people looking for vocational training and we're wondering if you're interested.
Von Ungern-Sternberg was working for the Freiburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts, a trade body that represents skilled workers from various trades, when the email arrived at an opportune moment. Many employers were desperate, unable to find any workforce at all. So we decided to give it a chance, he recalls.
His first inquiry led him to the head of the local butchers' guild, as many butchers were facing significant recruitment challenges. The number of small, family-run butcher shops has drastically declined, highlighting the difficulty in attracting apprentices.
In late 2022, after initial discussions, 13 young Indians arrived in Germany to start their butchery apprenticeships. One of them, 21-year-old Anakha Miriam Shaji, expressed her excitement at moving to Germany for better opportunities. She aimed to improve her living standards and benefit from robust social security.
Three years later, the initiative has grown, and von Ungern-Sternberg launched his own agency called India Works, in partnership with Aditi Banerjee from Magic Billion. They have successfully recruited about 200 young Indian workers for various positions in Germany's labor market, including bakers and mechanics.
Even though the demographics present a challenge—Germany's population is aging—they are turning to India, which has a large youth population, to fill this gap. Currently, India has around 600 million people below 25, suggesting a substantial labor surplus that could be utilized.
In a significant move to facilitate this labor migration, Germany recently announced that it will drastically increase the skilled work visa quota for Indian citizens, fostering a stronger economic partnership.
As more young Indians find employment in Germany, they report satisfaction with their working conditions and the financial stability that allows them to support their families back home. This partnership showcases how evolving global labor dynamics can address population challenges and benefit both countries.
