Germany is grappling with a persistent deficit of skilled labor. As seasoned professionals retire, the influx of younger candidates hasn’t been sufficient to fill the vacant positions. In an effort to mitigate this challenge, the nation is increasingly turning its attention to recruiting workers from India.
For Handirk von Ungern-Sternberg, the initiative began with an email received in February 2021. The message, originating from India, conveyed a straightforward proposition: “We have many young, motivated individuals seeking vocational training, and we wanted to gauge your interest.”
At the time, von Ungern-Sternberg was associated with the Freiburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts in southwest Germany. This trade organization represents a diverse range of skilled professionals, from bricklayers and carpenters to butchers and bakers, alongside the companies that employ them.
The timing of this communication proved advantageous. “Numerous employers were in dire straits, unable to find suitable staff,” von Ungern-Sternberg noted. “Consequently, we decided to explore this opportunity.”
His initial outreach was directed to the head of the local butchers’ guild. The butchery sector across Germany was experiencing significant difficulties; it was a field facing a pronounced decline. From 19,000 small, family-run businesses in 2002, the number had dwindled to fewer than 11,000 by 2021. Employers found it exceptionally challenging to attract young individuals to enter apprenticeships.
“The butchery trade demands considerable physical effort,” explained Joachim Lederer, the head of the butchers’ guild. “For roughly the past twenty-five years, younger generations have gravitated towards other career paths.”
In India, the employment agency Magic Billion, responsible for the initial email, successfully recruited thirteen young individuals. These trainees arrived in Germany in the autumn of 2022 to commence their butchery apprenticeships. Their training took place in smaller towns situated near the Swiss border, with a portion of their time dedicated to educational coursework.
Among these trainees was 21-year-old Anakha Miriam Shaji. For many in her cohort, this marked their first experience of leaving India. She recalled her eagerness, stating, “I desired to experience the world. I aimed to elevate my standard of living significantly and secure robust social security.”
Anakha began her apprenticeship with Lederer in Weil am Rhein, a town located in Germany’s far southwestern corner, bordering both Switzerland and France.
Expansion and Growth of the Initiative
Three years later, circumstances have evolved considerably. Von Ungern-Sternberg has transitioned from his previous role at the chamber. He has since established his own employment agency, India Works, in collaboration with Aditi Banerjee of Magic Billion. Their joint venture focuses on facilitating the arrival of more young Indian workers to Germany.
From the initial group of thirteen, the number of young Indians employed in German butcher shops has grown to comprise 200 individuals.
Germany’s demographic landscape presents a significant challenge. A 2024 study indicates that the economy requires the annual influx of 288,000 foreign workers. Failing to meet this demand could result in a 10% reduction of the workforce by 2040, according to a report by the Bertelsmann Foundation think tank.
As the latter segment of the baby boomer generation approaches retirement, there is an insufficient number of young Germans to absorb the remaining roles, a consequence of a low birth rate. Conversely, India possesses a substantial youth population.
“India is a nation with 600 million people under the age of 25,” Banerjee commented. “Each year, only 12 million enter the workforce. This results in a considerable labor surplus.”
India Works is currently preparing to bring 775 young Indians to Germany this year for apprenticeship programs. The vocational fields they will enter are extensive and varied. These now include infrastructure development, mechanics, stonemasonry, and baking, among others.
The process for skilled Indian workers to secure employment in Germany has been streamlined since both nations signed the 2022 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement. Furthermore, in late 2024, Germany announced an increase in its skilled work visa quota for Indian citizens, raising it from 20,000 to 90,000 per year.
Official German statistics reveal that in 2024, there were 136,670 Indian workers employed in the country, a notable increase from the 23,320 recorded in 2015.
Motivations and Experiences of Indian Trainees
Young Indians who have secured employment in Germany through India Works frequently cite similar reasons for pursuing opportunities in a new country. These include the challenges of finding work in India, the higher earning potential available in Europe, and a personal drive for self-advancement.
Consider Ishu Gariya, a 20-year-old who, after completing his high school education in India, had contemplated a university degree and a career in computing. “However, I was hesitant to invest in a degree only to accept a low-paying job with a company,” he explained.
He subsequently relocated from a Delhi suburb to a village in Germany’s Black Forest region, where he is undertaking an apprenticeship as a baker. Despite having shifts that extend until three in the morning and wearing a hooded down jacket to ward off the winter chill, he expresses contentment.
“Our wages here are substantial,” he stated. “Consequently, I will be able to provide financial support to my family [back home].” He also conveyed his appreciation for the clean air in the German countryside.
Ajay Kumar Chandapaka, 25, arrived from Hyderabad to join Spedition Dold, a logistics company based in a village near Freiburg. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
“Securing a job in India proved exceedingly difficult for me,” he recounted. “Therefore, I concluded that an ‘Ausbildung’ would be a more suitable path for my career.” ‘Ausbildung’ is the German term for vocational training or apprenticeship.
Lederer, who hired two of the initial cohort, now employs seven young Indians. He credits these new recruits with the survival of his business. “When I first started 35 years ago, there were eight shops similar to mine within a 10-kilometer radius,” he observed. “Now, I am the sole proprietor remaining. My business would not be operational today without the contributions from India.”
Further along the street, at the town hall in Weil am Rhein, Mayor Diana Stöcker, a member of the conservative Christian Democratic Union of Germany party, is also preparing to hire personnel from India. The municipality has identified two young individuals who are scheduled to arrive in Germany later this year for positions as kindergarten teachers.
“We have been searching for educators throughout Germany,” she said. “However, they are exceptionally scarce.”
Stöcker, a former member of the German Bundestag, was elected mayor in 2024. She acknowledges Germany’s pervasive difficulty in finding young talent across various sectors and identifies a single viable solution. “We must look beyond our borders. This is the sole feasible option.”