Import of Workers from Western Balkans Has Positive Impact on German Economy

The importing of labor force from the countries of the Western Balkans has had a positive impact on the labor market in Germany, according to the results of a survey carried out by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in Nuremberg.

– Exactly 54% of those employed as part of the rules on employing people from the Western Balkans are qualified workers, 4% are highly qualified and 42% are auxiliary workers – according to the report, Klix.ba writes.

The new regulation on employing workers from the Western Balkans was implemented in early 2016, after the countries from the region were included on the list of the so-called safe countries, which has practically excluded the possibility of the citizens from these countries acquiring the asylum-seeker status in Germany.

Critics claimed this has caused exclusively unqualified, low-pay-grade workers and older workers to come to Germany and there were speculations that, due to the closeness of their retirement age and low payments to welfare funds, they would burden the German system once they retire.

However, the IAB study has shown that it is mostly younger workers who come to Germany under the regulation pertaining to the Western Balkans. In 2016 and 2017, 73% of the workers were younger than 40, and 86% were men. The majority, making up 44%, are employed in construction, and 13% are employed in the gastronomy sector.

– Considering the stability of the jobs and the salaries compared to other immigrant groups and local populace, the integration of the people who arrived to Germany under this regulation into the labor market has been successful – the study concludes.

Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg

IAB

importing of labor force

Western Balkans countries

Western Balkans

workers

qualified workers

construction

gastronomy sector