Stories

Mon, 23 Mar 2026

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 Germany has a shortage of workers - so it's turning to India for help

The European nation, struggling to find skilled staff, is giving jobs to young people from India.

* Germany is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers due to an aging population and low birth rates.
* The country is turning to foreign workers, particularly from India, to fill the gap.
* In 2021, the Freiburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts received an email from Magic Billion, an Indian employment agency, offering to send young Indians for vocational training in Germany.
* 13 young Indians were recruited and began their butchery apprenticeships in small towns along the border with Switzerland in 2022.
* The program was a success, and more young Indians are now being brought in to work in various professions, including road building, mechanics, stonemasons, and baking.
* Since the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement was signed between Germany and India in 2022, it has become easier for skilled Indian workers to come to Germany.
* The quota for skilled work visas for Indian citizens has been increased from 20,000 per year to 90,000.
* Many young Indians who have moved to Germany via India Works say they are motivated by the desire for better salaries and social security, as well as a chance to make their own way in life.
* Employers in Germany, including butchers and haulage companies, are benefiting from the influx of skilled Indian workers, who are helping to fill labor gaps and save businesses.