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The Federal Statistical Office published the statistics on the Recognition Act this October. The number of new applications, filed for the recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad, in 2015 was 19,389. This represents an increase of 10 percent compared to the previous year. Since the Act came into effect in 2012, more than 63,000 applications have already been submitted. The recognition process is becoming increasingly popular. This is a positive signal, especially for economy, because it implies that, more skilled international workers with recognized professional qualifications can strengthen local companies.
The success rate differs depending on the country, in which the applicants were trained. Recognition rates tend to be higher in the geographically and culturally closer countries than in the more remote countries.
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.
Applicants from Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and France have the highest chances of positive ruling since their success rate is over 90%. The highest recognition rate has the Netherlands with about 96%. Those from Italy, Austria, Romania and Hungary received a positive ruling in over 89% of the cases.
Applicants from Belgium, Hungary, Libya, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Italy and Romania have the highest chances of positive ruling since their success rate is over 85%. The highest recognition rate has Austria with about 92%. Those from Greece received a positive ruling in over 80% of the cases.
The specialist unit at the Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (f-bb) evaluated the cases processed by the contact points of the “Integration through Qualification (IQ)” in the period from mid-2012 until the end of 2014. A total of 37.562 guidance services on recognition of foreign professional qualifications were provided all over Germany in this period. Those aged 25 to 44 made up 75.8 percent of people seeking counselling. Furthermore, far more women (63.2 percent) than men (36.8 percent) contacted the IQ advisory centers.
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.
Applicants from Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have the highest chances of positive ruling since their success rate is over 90%. The recognition rate of those from Belgium equals 100%, which means that all applicants from Belgium get full equivalence. The success rate of those from Czech Republic, Netherlands and Portugal is over 94%.
Applicants from Portugal and Spain have the highest chances of positive ruling since their recognition rate stands at about 95% in Germany. The success rate of those from Czech Republic, Austria and Greece is over 90%. Those from Hungary and Slovakia received a positive ruling in over 85% of the cases.
More than 13,200 foreign professional qualifications were recognised in 2014, the Federal Statistic Office reports. This is a twelve percent increase over the previous year. Since the Recognition Act entered in force in April 2012, some 32,500 applications were granted full or limited recognition, which is good news in view of rising skills shortages.