Recruitment of foreign specialists

The famous shortage of skilled labour has persisted on the German market for years and is not going away any time soon. There are many reasons for this, but they should be dealt with separately.

The fact is that, for this reason, staff are being brought in from other countries through professional recruitment agencies. This has many advantages, but also its challenges. Let's take a closer look at all of this.

Which skilled workers are currently in high demand in Germany via recruitment agencies?

There are various sectors in which there is a strong demand for personnel from abroad. These are primarily the following areas:

• Carers
• IT specialists
• Engineers and technicians
• Health and medical technician
• Construction workers and craftsmen

Carers in Germany generally complain that their wages are too low and therefore turn to other professions. This has led to the search for carers from abroad, especially from Poland, Romania and other European countries. These carers are very often employed in care facilities such as hospitals or retirement homes. Home care is now also very much in demand.

IT is currently an industry that is growing rapidly in Germany. This is why it is particularly affected by the shortage of skilled labour. Employees are desperately needed in the areas of cybersecurity, software development and data analysis.

The shortage of engineers and technicians has become a huge problem in Germany. There is a shortage of skilled labour in the automotive industry, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering in particular. For this reason, the main focus is on workers from Eastern Europe, who generally have good qualifications and several years of experience.

In recent years, in addition to the shortage of nursing staff, there has also been a shortage of medical specialists such as doctors and medical technicians. They are, of course, urgently needed to help patients.

For many decades now, it has been normal in the construction industry to need qualified labour. That is why Construction worker, Electrician, plumbers and other skilled trades are in high demand. Trained specialists can be found here, especially from Eastern Europe.

What are the recruitment methods for foreign specialists?

There are now many digital platforms that can be used to search for skilled workers internationally. Recruitment companies have the opportunity here to search specifically for such specialists and also keep an eye on the needs of the respective company.

However, many companies now have a pool of their own skilled workers that they can lend to the respective companies for a certain period of time if required. This has the advantage for customers that they receive customised solutions for their company and the skilled personnel are usually available quickly.

Direct placement vs. temporary work vs. contract for work and labour

When recruiting foreign skilled labour, companies have three basic options, which differ in terms of cost, flexibility and legal requirements:

Direct placement: The candidate is permanently employed by the company. The recruitment agency takes care of the search and pre-selection. This is the preferred solution for positions with long-term requirements and high qualification standards.

Temporary Employment Act (AÜG): The specialist remains employed by the personnel service provider and is loaned to the company. This offers maximum flexibility for short-term or project-related requirements. The service provider takes care of payroll accounting, social security contributions and personnel administration. Find out more: Temporary employment vs. subcontracting.

Work contract / subcontractor: An independent company or subcontractor performs a clearly defined service. In this case, there is no integration into the client's business. It is important to differentiate this from bogus self-employment. Find out more: Avoid bogus self-employment.

What challenges are there in the placement of foreign skilled workers?

There are legal requirements that must be met. This concerns both the work permit and a visa in certain cases. In addition, foreign skilled workers must provide proof of qualifications that are recognised in Germany and demonstrate appropriate language skills.

It depends on the sector whether a qualification from abroad has to be recognised separately in Germany. It is therefore important to have an experienced recruitment agency at your side.

Other typical challenges in international recruitment:

• Professional recognition: In regulated professions such as electrical engineering or nursing, formal recognition of foreign qualifications is required. Find out more: Professional recognition for electricians from abroad.
• A1 certificate: For postings to EU countries, each employee must have an A1 certificate before starting work. Find out more: A1 certificate - mandatory for secondment.
• Language barriers: Basic knowledge of German is mandatory for many jobs in Germany - especially on construction sites for safety reasons.
• Cultural integration: A good induction programme and clear communication structures are crucial for successful collaboration.

Frequently asked questions about the recruitment of foreign specialists