Rösler: We need more skilled professionals

On occasion of the federal government's Second Demography Summit, the German Federal Minister of Economics Philipp Rösler highlighted the significance of a sufficiently large number of skilled professionals: "As is the case also in many other countries, the growing demand for well-trained skilled professionals poses a challenge for Germany. Our economy needs qualified professionals to remain competitive and to retain its innovation power."

He said that to this end firstly the full domestic potential needs to be tapped by placing more well-educated women and more well-experienced older people in gainful employment.

Secondly, Germany needs the immigration of well-qualified skilled professionals. Rösler stated that abroad, word had gotten around that Germany is opening up to welcome international skilled professionals. The German federal government has improved the conditions for immigration by simplifying the Blue Card, in particular with regard to occupations experiencing labour shortages. Yet this, said Rösler, must be followed by further steps to promote demand-oriented and controlled immigration.

However, the German Federal Minister of Economics does not deem this sufficient: "In order to be successful in competing for the best heads, we moreover need also a true culture of welcoming them. One contribution towards this is the offer of dual citizenship, which we ought to enable. Another contribution could be to pave the way towards full professional qualification obtained in Germany for immigrants from third countries."