Faced with growing labor shortages, Germany and Italy are taking steps to attract skilled workers from abroad. These initiatives aim to expand visa programs to meet workforce demands.
Germany Initiatives
Germany has a bunch of initiatives directed at attracting international talent-including the Opportunity Card that allows a person to come into Germany along with basic language knowledge. With the new Skilled Immigration Act, Germany made provisions for 22,422 additional visas for migrant workers in 2024, and more such provisions would follow. For the year 2023, 177,000 visas were issued to skilled foreign workers, and it is expected that the number will reach 200,000 by the end of 2024.
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The country has more than 400,000 vacancies in skilled professions. Officials state that the output must be complemented by the intake of workers and skilled professionals to say the least for the economy’s support. Going on with the hassle-free and digitized application process should make it all quicker and more convenient.
Italy’s Investment
Italy, too, has increased its work visas to supply the labor needs. The number of expected work visas would rise from 151,000 in 2024 to 165,000 by 2025, after 136,000 in 2023. The larger part of the increase is slated for notoriously short occupations. In addition, Italy is expanding the quotas for seasonal workers, mainly in agriculture and hospitality sectors. Expected visas for 2025 for seasonal jobs are 93,550 compared to 89,050 for 2024.
Italian government intends to create a three-year plan focusing on professions showing clear labor shortages to prop up economic growth and industry demand.