THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Germany is increasingly recognising the professional qualifications of foreign workers — a trend seen as vital for addressing the country’s acute shortage of skilled labour.
According to new data from the Federal Statistical Office, 79,100 applications for recognition of foreign qualifications were approved in 2024, an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. Since systematic recording began in 2016, the number of recognised qualifications has more than tripled.
At the same time, the number of ongoing recognition procedures also reached a record high: 95,500 applications were still being processed in 2024, more than double the figure from 2016. Policymakers and business leaders continue to call for faster and less bureaucratic recognition processes, warning that delays only worsen Germany’s skills shortage.
Who Benefits Most?
The largest group of successful applicants came from Turkey, with 9,200 qualifications recognised. Ukraine followed closely, recording a sharp increase to 6,400 recognitions — more than double the previous year. Other countries in the top five included Tunisia, India, and Syria, while figures declined for applicants from Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Philippines.
As in previous years, the majority of recognitions were in healthcare.
- Nursing professionals topped the list with 32,500 recognitions — making up 41 percent of all approvals and marking a 19 percent increase over 2023.
- Doctors followed with 11,000 recognitions.
- Engineers were third, with 4,400 cases approved.
Why It Matters
Germany’s economy relies heavily on migrant professionals to fill labour gaps, especially in health and technical fields. An ageing population and growing demand for care workers mean that internationally trained nurses and doctors are more important than ever.
For many migrants, recognition of their qualifications is the key step that allows them to work in their trained professions rather than being underemployed. Faster recognition not only helps fill shortages but also enables skilled workers to fully contribute their expertise and build careers in Germany.
Sola Jolaoso
