The gradual opening of the german labour market to asylum seekers

Séverine FERAUD Senior Adviser at the Federation of German Employers’ syndicates (BDA) [vc_btn title= »Télécharger l’article » style= »outline » color= »blue » align= »right » i_icon_fontawesome= »fa fa-file-pdf-o » add_icon= »true »] Germany is expecting one million migrants by the end of 2015. German businesses are getting ready for this massive influx of people. But the legal framework must be amended to ensure asylum seekers really do have access to the job market. Germany has a huge structural deficit in qualified personnel, which is worsened by weaknesses in its education system and by generational ageing. According to the German Ministry of Economy, the shortfall in qualified workers will break the two million mark in the next 15 years. To ensure economic prosperity and long-term competitiveness, Germany must act quickly on two fronts. Firstly, it must take steps to unlock the full potential of its own human assets more quickly, and to get young people, women, disabled people, elderly people and existing