The refugee to skilled workers

Idle to wait for damn, that is the fate of most asylum seekers in Germany. Even if they are academics or professionals. Above all the economy wants to change. First test projects in a practical test.

Germany will continue to age, the company is missing increasingly young talent. Although the number of persons employed in the current year and constantly to the new record level of approximately 43 million. The economy still complains about lack of specialists. Also apprenticeships can, in many cases no longer be filled - in particular in the less attractive industries. The trend is a matter of concern: a study by the Institute for Labor Market and Employment Research shows that the number of potentially economically active in Germany until 2050 will shrink by a third.

On the other hand there are more refugees to Germany. Many of them have learned a trade or even studied. Michael Huether, director of the Institute of the German economy in Cologne is a "great potential": every fifth asylum seekers bring a university degree with a qualification, a third had a german craftsman.

Lower Saxony is a pioneer

The state of Lower Saxony, the model projects. The lower Saxony have put on their own concept. You want to search for skilled workers under the incoming Refugees systematically remove. Refugees from countries such as Syria is currently permanently because of the civil war are denied a return, says Daniela Behrens, Secretary of State for the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economy, Labor and Transport. "These are the people who will work on a long-term perspective and integration into society, because it due to the ongoing critical situation in their countries of origin are expected to remain with us long."

"Competences - arrive well in Lower Saxony" is the name of the project. Already from the first day in the reception centers of the country are found, on the qualifications required of the refugees, what professional qualifications, professional experience and language skills they have and if they are suitable for the labor market. The agencies for work Vermittlungsfachkrafte are used on-site. The results are to the agencies for work and job centers locally, as soon as the refugees arrive in the municipalities in all of Lower Saxony. The findings are useful for the Anerkennungsberatung of financial statements, with regard to the placement in Jobs and internships or in language courses.

Missing papers must not be an obstacle

But what if refugees have no papers and their qualifications, diplomas or certificates can also obtain not retrospectively? In this case the "professional qualifications with skills analysis", which has launched the federal education ministry. Using work samples, technical discussions or presentations to skills, knowledge and skills can be demonstrated. The skills analysis is still a model project. Under the name "Prototyping Transfer" is the procedure being tested in nine major cities in Germany and funded by the Federal Ministry. If it is successful, it could be extended.