Germany adopts new skilled‑immigration law to tackle workforce shortage

Germany faces a serious labour shortfall, with estimates that roughly 400,000 skilled workers must be recruited from abroad each year to sustain its economy and social systems. In response, the Bundestag passed a reform of the Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz that creates three immigration pillars:

1. **Skilled‑worker pillar** – lowers salary thresholds and lets recognised professionals take any job across sectors. 2. **Experience pillar** – permits anyone with a valid employment contract and documented work experience to enter, bypassing lengthy credential checks. 3. **Potential pillar** – introduces a points‑based “Chancen‑Karte” (opportunity card) that awards points for qualifications, language skills and other criteria; the card has been available since 1 June 2024.

The amendment also allows asylum seekers whose case is pending as of 29 March 2023 to switch directly to a work‑purpose residence permit, facilitating their participation in the labour market.

Alongside the legislative changes, training programmes such as GrandEdu’s DATEV‑Fachkraft course aim to help foreign accountants adapt to German accounting software, legal requirements and business practices, thereby smoothing the integration of skilled migrants into the German workforce.