Germany plans to halve work permit quotas for Western Balkans

The German government plans to halve the annual quota of work permits for citizens of the Western Balkans from 50,000 to 25,000, a move proposed to take effect in January 2027.

The Federal Employment Agency has expressed strong opposition to this decision, warning that it could exacerbate Germany’s acute shortage of skilled labor. Vanessa Ahuja, a board member of the agency, stated that reducing the quota would “weaken the successful immigration model, worsen the shortage of skilled workers, and make it harder for companies to find suitable employees.”

Currently, over half a million people from the Western Balkan region are employed in Germany, contributing fully to the social security system. Approximately 53 percent of these migrants are classified as skilled or highly skilled workers. The agency highlighted that many of these individuals fill critical roles in sectors such as construction, transport, logistics, and hospitality. The reduction could specifically impact government initiatives like the “Bauturbo” program, which aims to accelerate residential construction through 2030 and relies heavily on available labor.