Germany: more and more young unemployed graduates from southern Europe are seeking happiness in Germany

Assistance to SMEs.  To help German businesses face the growing lack of skilled workers, the Federal Employment Agency, through its Foreign Workers Placement services (ZAV), has been carrying out, for about two years now, an active recruitment policy of young graduates in southern European countries, racked by record unemployment rates (see our dispatch No.  110489).  Thus, in addition to information campaigns last summer, pointing to Germany’s need for skilled workers, the ZAV offers a wide range of services to German businesses: posting their job offers on the databases of the EURES European network, shortlisting received applications and organizing meetings between the applicants and the companies during local job fairs, etc.  A ZAV spokesman said this offer was mostly addressed to SMEs as, unlike large businesses, they don’t have personnel departments capable of carrying out their own recruitment policy abroad.  Within a few months, 17,000 Spanish people requested information about coming to work in Germany. 
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

ervices to German businesses: posting their job offers on the databases of the EURES European network, shortlisting received applications and organizing meetings between the applicants and the companies during local job fairs, etc. A ZAV spokesman said this offer was mostly addressed to SMEs as, unlike large businesses, they don’t have personnel departments capable of carrying out their own recruitment policy abroad. Within a few months, 17,000 Spanish people requested information about comin

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Germany: crisis and transformation wage agreement in the chemical sector
Following a two-day marathon negotiation in Bad Breisig (Western Germany), the social partners of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industries—the IG BCE trade union and the BAVC employers'...
27 March 2026
Malta: a draft amendment to better protect against workplace harassment
The news. On 23 February 2026, the Maltese government introduced a draft amendment to the Employment and Industrial Relations Act, seeking to expand the scope of protection against workplace...
Italy: parental leave extended until the child’s 14th birthday
The 2026 Italian Finance Act has extended optional parental leave, which can now be taken until the child is 14 years old, up from 12 previously. This leave has a maximum duration of 10 or 11...
Germany: launch of the “WE-Fair” alliance for binational training of skilled foreign workers
Germany continues to expand and diversify its initiatives to attract skilled foreign labour from outside the EU. In mid-March 2026, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
2
France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement
Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...
3
France: Club Med includes “multiculturalism” in its professional equality agreement
In December 2025, Club Med and the CFTC, Unsa, and FO trade unions signed an agreement on professional equality and working conditions. It introduces measures addressing AI, pay transparency, and...
23 March 2026
4
Greece: hospitality sector signs first collective agreement aligned with National Social Pact
The hospitality sector (125,000 employees), one of Greece’s largest industries after retail, signed a new two-year collective agreement on 17 March. The text, effective from 1 April 2026...
5
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
6
United Kingdom: launch of consultation on protection against detriment for industrial action
The British government launched a public consultation on 26 February regarding new protections for workers against "detriment" related to industrial action, scheduled to take effect in October...
12 March 2026