Foreign experts should be warmly received, according to Scholz's assertion.
In a bid to address Germany's skilled labor shortage, particularly in Eastern Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) are advocating for a more open approach to foreign skilled workers.
The planned immigration law reforms, set to take effect from March 2024, aim to ease immigration rules for skilled workers and their families. One of the key changes is the removal of requirements for proof of adequate living space for spouses and minor children in family reunification cases. The Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz) also extends Blue Card EU holders' ability to bring parents to Germany, helping attract and retain skilled labor.
In addition, Germany introduced the "Opportunity Card" in 2025, which allows non-EU talent to enter the country without a job offer if they meet financial thresholds, streamlining visa eligibility for shortage occupations such as IT specialists. These visa reforms are part of efforts to meet the acute demand for talent in sectors critical for economic growth, including in Eastern Germany.
While broader immigration issues remain contentious, such as changes in asylum procedures and deportation rules targeting illegal migration, the focus of these reforms seems to be on making it easier for qualified workers and their families to come to and stay in Germany. However, there is no specific publicly available plan solely targeting Eastern Germany beyond these national-level policies.
Chancellor Scholz emphasized the need for courage to make decisions in reducing bureaucracy and dismantling some expert regulations. He highlighted that soft factors, such as the willingness to make decisions, are important in attracting workers and skilled professionals, especially in future-oriented sectors.
The debate on this immigration reform is currently happening in the Bundestag, with a final vote in the Bundesrat planned for early July. The Eastern German Economic Forum, being held in Bad Saarow from Sunday to Tuesday, brings together representatives from politics, business, science, and society to discuss economic transformation, conditions for industrial companies, the skilled labor shortage, global competition, and energy supply.
BDI President Siegfried Russwurm warned against xenophobia and prejudices, emphasizing the importance of diversity in Germany. He urged businesses not to be left behind in the transformation. The federal government aims to create one of the most modern immigration systems in the world to address the skilled labor shortage.
In summary, Germany's immigration law reforms to address the skilled labor shortage emphasize easing family reunification provisions for skilled workers, expanding visa pathways like the Opportunity Card for non-EU professionals in shortage occupations, and general modernization of skilled labor immigration to attract and retain international talent across all regions, including Eastern Germany. The country is described as "colorful, not brown," emphasizing the importance of diversity in a country as internationally interconnected as Germany.
- The focus of Germany's immigration reforms appears to be on easing immigration rules for skilled workers and their families, with the removal of proof of adequate living space requirements for family reunification cases being one of the key changes.
- Germany's planned immigration law reforms also aim to attract and retain skilled labor by extending the Blue Card EU holders' ability to bring their parents to Germany, and by introducing the "Opportunity Card" for non-EU talent in shortage occupations, such as IT specialists.
- As part of these reforms, politics, business, science, and society are actively discussing economic transformation, conditions for industrial companies, the skilled labor shortage, global competition, and energy supply, with a focus on meeting the demand for talent in sectors critical for economic growth, including Eastern Germany.
