IVAM Executive Panel, October 2015: Will refugees counteract the skills shortage?

Whether the current influx of refugees carries future professionals for the microtechnology industry into Germany, seems rather unclear at the moment. A third of the industry experts say that the influx of immigrants is an opportunity to win professionals for the industry. But prerequisite for their employment is that an effective integration policy will be established. A factor of uncertainty is the initially unclear residence status of refugees. This stands in contrast to the high specialization of microtechnology companies, which usually requires long and expensive training.

The industry representatives almost agree that refugees who come to Germany should get a work permit more quickly – also in order to facilitate their integration and to relieve the social system. Preferably, the status and prospects of a long-term stay in Germany should be clarified before a work permit is issued.


The IVAM Executive Panel is a group of selected experts and opinion leaders from industry and science.