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New Destatis figures show that last year, more foreign vocational qualifications were recognised than in previous years,. Especially against the backdrop of demographic change and the corona crisis, Germany is dependent on skilled workers from abroad.

In this section we demonstrate how companies can assist the employees in having their foreign qualifications recognised. Depending on whether the skilled worker is applying from abroad or from within Germany, the options for assistance can differ.

The share of those granted full equivalence varies widely by individual professions and by professional groups. The proportion of applicants who received full equivalence is especially high in the sales sectors. It reaches 82%. The success rate in the informatics, information and communication technology sector is, on the contrary, extremely low.

In terms of individual professions the recognition rate in Germany diverges widely. On the one hand, over 90% of master bricklayers and master concrete workers receive full equivalence. Only slightly below this figure is the success rate of applicants who wish to have their license to practice as a dentist or veterinarian recognized.

The success rate differs depending on the region where the foreign professional qualification was obtained. The success rate for EU member states is the highest.

The success rate differs depending on the region where the foreign professional qualification was obtained. The success rate for EU member states is the highest.

The success rate differs depending on the region where the foreign professional qualification was obtained. The success rate for EU member states is the highest.

In 2024, as in previous years, regulated medical professions dominate the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications in Germany. The success rate for positive recognition (full equivalence) in regulated professions ranges between 25 and 74 per cent, with minor deviations. The highest proportion of notices on full equivalence were issued for metal technology specialists (non-regulated profession) and industrial electronics technicians (non-regulated profession), each with 76 per cent. Among the regulated professions, it is geriatric nurses with 74 per cent.

In 2023, as in previous years, the regulated medical professions dominated in the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications in Germany. For the regulated professions, the rate of positive recognition ranged between 25 and 66 percent. The highest rate of decisions on full equivalence for the non-regulated professions was issued for kitchen specialists, at 89 percent.