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Sought-after professions in Germany

Skilled international workers have the best chances in Germany in these sectors.

Nicole Sagener, 27.02.2020
IT specialists have good career opportunities in Germany.
IT specialists have good career opportunities in Germany. © iStockphoto / gilaxia

The need for skilled labour is great, and is increasing because of demographic change. Especially in STEM professions (science and technology) and in health care, Germany already depends upon skilled workers from abroad. Many jobs are filled by immigrants. In 2017 alone, 38,000 skilled workers from countries outside the EU immigrated to Germany. This emerges from a study conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation.

Doctors

No profession enjoys as high a reputation in Germany as that of the doctor. This is rewarded with top salaries. In rural areas, however, there is a shortage of doctors in private practice and even in clinics. At present, about 49,000 foreign doctors work in Germany, twice as many as in 2013.

Prerequisite: doctors trained abroad who have training comparable to that in Germany receive a state license to practice as a doctor in Germany.

Nurses

Nursing and health professionals easily find a job in Germany. Hospitals, retirement homes and other care facilities lack qualified staff.

Prerequisite: If you have been trained as a qualified nurse in your country of origin, you can have your degree recognized in Germany. Required are certification of medical fitness and knowledge of German at the B2 or B1 level, depending on the federal state.

Engineers

In an industrialized nation like Germany, engineers have the best prospects for a career and a good salary. Companies for electrical and construction engineering, machine and vehicle construction are desperately looking for qualified professionals. Currently, academics also have opportunities as career jumpers. Digitization is further boosting demand.

Prerequisite: If your professional qualification as an engineer or consultant engineer is equivalent to the German degree, it will be recognized.

Scientists and computer scientists

Bottlenecks also exist in the STEM area, that is, in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. Both the private sector and government research institutes such as the Max Planck Society and the Fraunhofer Society offer exciting jobs to scientists in these fields.

Prerequisite: At the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB), foreign STEM graduates can compare their degree to German educational qualifications.

All information about working in Germany can be found at the portal Make-it-in-Germany.

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