Employment Migration More Than Doubled

On March 1, 2020, the Skilled Immigration Act came into force in Germany. Five years later, the Federal Employment Agency (BA) draws a clear conclusion: employment migration to Germany has more than doubled since then.

According to the latest press release, around 420,000 employees subject to social security contributions were working in Germany in June 2025 with a residence permit or permanent settlement permit based on employment. In 2020, the figure was just over 200,000. This clearly shows: the law is working – and demand remains high.

Figures That Demonstrate the Shift

The doubling within five years is remarkable from a labor market policy perspective. Of particular importance is the EU Blue Card:

• Around 164,000 employees from non-EU countries currently hold an EU Blue Card.
• This represents an increase of 114 percent compared to 2020.
• More than half of all employment migrants have come to Germany through this instrument.

The lowering of minimum salary thresholds in 2023 provided an additional boost. Especially in shortage occupations – IT, engineering, and healthcare – the EU Blue Card is increasingly being used strategically.

For companies, this means that international recruitment is no longer a niche topic, but a central component of modern workforce strategies.

Consultation Figures Increase Significantly

The growing interest in Germany as a place to work is also reflected in rising demand for information and consultation.

By the end of 2025, the Federal Employment Agency had conducted a total of 360,000 digital consultations with individuals interested in working in Germany. Particularly relevant:

• 23,600 consultations on the recognition of professional qualifications in 2025 alone
• Advisory services provided prior to entry into Germany

This pre-entry consultation is crucial. The better qualifications are clarified in advance, the faster integration into the labor market can succeed. For employers, this significantly reduces uncertainty in the recruitment process.

Western Balkans Regulation: Demand Clearly Exceeds Supply

A particularly dynamic area is the so-called Western Balkans Regulation, which applies to workers from:

• Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia

More than a quarter of employees subject to social security contributions who hold residence permits for employment come from these countries.

In mid-2024, the annual quota for labor market approvals was doubled to 50,000 per year. Nevertheless, demand significantly exceeds supply.

In December 2025, the BA had to reject around 18,000 applications because the quota had already been exhausted.

For sectors such as construction, logistics, care services, and hospitality, the Western Balkans Regulation therefore remains an essential instrument – albeit one with structural capacity limits.

Labor Market Policy Assessment

Five years after the Skilled Immigration Act came into force, several conclusions can be drawn:

1. Employment migration is growing dynamically.
2. The EU Blue Card is the central steering instrument.
3. Demand for legal migration pathways partly exceeds available quotas.
4. Consultation and qualification recognition processes are becoming strategically more important.

In light of demographic change, the recruitment of international skilled workers will continue to gain importance. The key challenge will be to make procedures more efficient, accelerate recognition processes, and provide stronger support to companies recruiting from third countries.

What This Means for Employers

• International recruitment – for example via jobsingermany.net – is not a future issue, but a present reality.
• The EU Blue Card offers attractive framework conditions for highly qualified professionals.
• The Western Balkans Regulation remains an important access channel, but it is quota-limited.
• Early coordination with the Federal Employment Agency and professional support during recognition procedures are critical success factors.

The figures clearly show that Germany is an attractive destination for international skilled workers. The decisive factor now is to leverage this momentum strategically. The planned “Work-and-Stay Agency,” expected to be tendered and implemented from mid-2026, is intended to support this objective. Find more information here.