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German society
surprising, but the demographics paint a picture of a vibrantly diverse society. Around 83.5 million people live in Germany. Nearly 12.9 million of them hold a foreign passport – more than in any other of the 27 member states of the European Union. Including those who have subsequently acquired German citizenship – although born abroad or to immigrant parents in Germany – about 24.9 million people in Germany have a migrant background. In other words, practically a third of the people living in Germany [...] challenges for Germany, it also provides an opportunity to forge a new and auspicious form of coexistence in the very heart of Europe. Germany’s appeal and its opportunities for advancement Why does Germany attract such a large number of immigrants? Evidently, word has spread of the diverse opportunities, good prospects and interesting jobs on offer here. Practically all of the larger German cities feature a rich and vibrant mix of nationalities – a veritable melting pot of different cultures, languages, [...] communication technology, attracts a continuous flow of immigrants from all over the world. Immigrants to Germany play a major part in the country’s achievements and its improved image. Many people with a migrant background have become highly successful in Germany, pursuing careers as managers, engineers, entrepreneurs, lawyers or doctors. Others are employed as skilled labour in industry or in the restaurant trade. Others have gone into film, like Fatih Akin, a famous director of Turkish descent
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School system & compulsory education
school your child should attend. It is therefore a good idea to take a look at a few schools. One sign of a good school is that it not only provides high-quality instruction, but also offers extracurricular activities such as theatre, sports, language and music clubs, and school trips. A good school also encourages parent involvement. In addition to finding out whether the school has a place for your child, you should also ask about extracurricular options. If your children are not yet fluent in German [...] doubt be wondering how they can be found a place in a school. This is decided by the school management in consultation with the local education authority. As a general rule, children who have recently entered the country are not able to attend regular school lessons and will be offered special trial lessons instead due to their lack of German skills. The goal is to integrate them as soon as possible into regular school classes. How to recognise a good school As a rule, you are free to decide which school [...] unable to attend school for a prolonged period. As a parent, you will receive an invitation from the relevant school authority with details of the exact dates and registration procedures. You can also obtain information on compulsory school attendance from the competent Ministry of Education. Education policy is the responsibility of Germany’s federal states. Searching the websites of the ministries in the relevant federal state is therefore the most effective way of finding a suitable school for your
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Economy
the German economy. Following the much-lauded era of virtual wealth creation on the financial markets, the following principle is to be kept in mind: the industry has always been a major plank of our prosperity. It accounts for as much as 22 per cent of the German economy as a whole, a share that compares favourably on a global level. The majority of Germany’s visible exports are industrial goods. German companies are leading in many sectors and in many markets worldwide. This applies, for example [...] includes photovoltaics, wind power and highly efficient power plant technology, the German economy has a high share on the global market. Germany is not only regarded as the country of great innovations in green technologies; ground-breaking inventions include the motorbike, the tram and the car. In a globalised world, a country’s innovative strength is crucial if it is to remain in its position as a global player. In 2023, Germany topped the European rankings with 58,656 patent applications. To achieve [...] belong to the top three in their sector worldwide. As many as 1,600 of these hidden champions help power Germany’s economy. Since many are tucked away in the provinces, their contribution is sometimes overlooked. A significant number of them employ thousands of people. As employers, they are much appreciated, since they tend to have a long-term vision and generally provide secure and well-paid jobs. Why is the German economy so strong? A Strong Hub Facts & figures about Germany Information on the web
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Financial support for families
can receive parental allowance if they live and work in Germany. Even if you are a citizen of another country, you are entitled to parental allowance if you have a residence title that allows you to work in Germany. If you are in Germany for your studies or vocational training, you will not receive parental allowance. You can find more details on the family portal or ask your parental allowance office . Info box From 1 September 2021, new and improved regulations apply to parental allowance. It has [...] Germany, it is possible for both parents to take parental leave after the birth of their child. You can find further information on the duration and possibilities for financial support here. Parental leave After the birth of a child, mothers and fathers have the right to take a break from work to care for their child and spend time with their family. During this time, the employer may only terminate the employment relationship in exceptional circumstances (e.g. insolvency, shutdown of the business) [...] is entitled to parental leave? Employees who have a German employment contract – whether full-time, part-time, marginal employment, fixed-term or permanent contract, etc. – are entitled to parental leave. The title also applies to trainees. The entitlement to parental leave exists until the child reaches the age of three. Students, pupils, interns, self-employed people or unemployed people are not entitled to parental leave. If both parents of a child are employed, they can take parental leave a
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Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg Welcome to the sunniest state in Germany: THE LÄND! Baden-Württemberg is one of the most modern industrial centres in the world. The region in south-west Germany combines excellent job prospects and a high quality of life for the perfect work-life balance. Skilled workers from all over the world will find world-famous companies in picturesque landscapes, an excellent research setting and the best educational opportunities here. Discover your new favourite place: THE LÄND. Keyfacts [...] engineering Information and communications technology Mechanical engineering Healthcare Electrical engineering Metal industry Chemicals and pharmaceuticals Population 11,339,260 Particularities With 14,648 patent applications in 2023, THE LÄND is the No. 1 innovation region in Europe. Additional contacts The official portal of Baden-Württemberg Get to know the multifaceted state and learn what makes it special. Points of contact for qualified professionals Here you can find service centres for immigrants
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Craftspeople
textile and leather Graphic design The German crafts and trades in figures 1 million companies of the German “Mittelstand” are part of the skilled crafts and trades. 5.4 million people were working in the skilled crafts and trades industry in 2024. Start your career in a skilled craft or trade in Germany Alongside a long tradition and dual vocational training for a period of 2 – 3.5 years, the skilled crafts and trades also encompass a high degree of innovation. This means that they are future-proof and [...] as part of a team, you will be involved in the construction and planning of structures on or below the earth's surface, such as tunnels, roads, railway tracks and pipelines. As a skilled construction worker in civil engineering, you will carry out physically demanding construction work, but you can also work as a civil engineer . As a well builder , you drill underground to make drinking water accessible. You drill well shafts, lay pipes and install pumping stations for the water. As a railway track [...] of master craftsperson or tradesperson If you have learnt a profession in the crafts and trades, you can continue your education in Germany to become a master of the craft. The title of master craftsman or master tradesperson is an officially recognised advanced training qualification in Germany and is a mark of quality for managers. Especially in crafts and trades subject to authorisation, a master’s title is often required for setting up a business . In the Trades and Crafts Code , you can find out
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Employment & earnings
received an average net salary of around €1,584.15 up to €3,044.31. Short working hours, plentiful vacation and public holidays In an international comparison of economies, German occupies the first place in many disciplines. You might think that Germans have achieved their ranking thanks to their proverbial hard work, long working hours, scant holiday and fewer public holidays than other countries. Yet the statistics prove the contrary. As for working hours, with 1,574 collectively agreed hours per full-time [...] elsewhere in Europe youth unemployment has risen significantly in the past few years, Germany's dual education system has paid off. In 2021, only 7.8 per cent of 15- to 24-year-olds were registered as "unemployed". Gross is not the same as net When signing a work contract for employment subject to social security contributions in Germany, your contract states your gross salary. But gross is not the same as net. It means that you will receive less than what is stated in your work contract. For instance, in
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Fachkräftegewinnung mithilfe der Anerkennungspartnerschaft – Gastronomie
in Service
qualifizierte Fachkräfte sowie Ausbildungsinteressierte dabei unterstützt werden, eine neue Perspektive zu finden. Wer führt das Projekt durch? An dem Projekt sind u. a. die Handwerkskammer Südthüringen, die Handwerkskammer Erfurt sowie das Bildungswerk BAU Hessen-Thüringen e. V. beteiligt. In Vietnam wurde ein Partnernetzwerk aus u. a. Sprachschulen und Berufskollegs aufgebaut, welche eine bedarfsorientierte Vorauswahl an Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern für die Arbeit oder Ausbildung in Thüringen treffen [...] Südthüringen, wurde Herrn Harrer die Köchin Thi Thía Lê vorgestellt. Mit ihrer zweijährigen Ausbildung in „professionellen Kochtechniken“ schien sie gut geeignet. Nach einem Vorstellungsgespräch per Videocall war die Entscheidung schnell gefallen: It’s a Match! Frau Lê sollte bald „Zur guten Quelle“ unterstützen – wenn möglich noch pünktlich zum Weihnachtsgeschäft. Anerkennungspartnerschaft und beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren Nach eingehender Beratung entschieden Herr Chen von der HWK Südthüringen [...] IHK überprüfte zunächst kurzfristig die Ausbildungsbefähigung des Betriebes, welche für die Anerkennungspartnerschaft bestätigt sein muss. Dann kontaktierte Herr Chen die lokale Ausländerbehörde, um das beschleunigte Fachkräfteverfahren anzustoßen [1] . Nun waren einige bürokratische Schritte notwendig: Die Fachkraft Frau Lê und der Arbeitgeber Herr Harrer schlossen einen Arbeitsvertrag inklusive einer Zusatzvereinbarung für die gemeinsame Durchführung der Anerkennungspartnerschaft. Die Digitale
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Wie funktioniert eine Anerkennungspartnerschaft?
in Service
bei Ihrem örtlichen Arbeitgeberservice der Bundesagentur für Arbeit oder Ihrer zuständigen Kammer nach. Verweise [1] Bushanska, Vira; Erbe, Jessica; Gilljohann, Katharina; Knöller, Ricarda; Schmitz, Nadja; Scholz, Moritz: Fachkräfteeinwanderung (nicht) ohne Anerkennung? Was sich mit dem neuen Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz für die Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsabschlüsse ändert. Version 1.0 Bonn, 2023 [2] In folgenden Fällen sind Anerkennungspartnerschaften für reglementierte Berufe möglich: zugelassene [...] Reihe neuer Regelungen zur Einreise und Beschäftigung von Staatsangehörigen aus sogenannten Drittstaaten (Staaten außerhalb des EU-/EWR-Raums und der Schweiz) in Kraft getreten. Eine dieser Regelungen ist die Anerkennungspartnerschaft, die seit dem 1. März 2024 gilt. Sie erlaubt durch eine Vereinbarung zwischen Arbeitgeber und Fachkraft die Beschäftigung parallel zum laufenden Anerkennungsverfahren, welches unmittelbar nach der Einreise nach Deutschland angestoßen werden muss. Hintergrund Bevor die [...] ). Die „Anerkennung“ kann aber dennoch sinnvoll sein: zum Beispiel im Hinblick auf den Verdienst, die beruflichen Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten und nachhaltige Integration am deutschen Arbeitsmarkt und damit der gesellschaftlichen Teilhabe der Fachkraft. [1] Außerdem erleichtert sie Arbeitgebern das Einschätzen der Kompetenzen und das Identifizieren des individuellen Weiterbildungsbedarfes. Ob eine Anerkennung notwendig und/oder sinnvoll ist, sollte durch eine individuelle Beratung geklärt werden (Anlaufstellen
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