Committee has been sought advice on the following matters:
## Addressing Skills Shortage: A Look at Streamlining Immigrant Worker Processes
A growing skills shortage in various sectors, such as train drivers, healthcare professionals, and construction workers, has become a pressing issue for the economy. This shortage is not limited to domestic workers, with industries also facing a dearth of skilled labour from third countries outside the EU.
In an effort to address this issue, several countries have implemented strategies to streamline the process for hiring skilled workers from abroad.
### Streamlined Processes for Hiring Skilled Workers
1. **Labor Certification and Job Offers**: Employers in many countries, including the United States, must secure labor certification from relevant departments. This certification ensures that no qualified domestic workers are available for the job, a requirement often necessary for both permanent and temporary work visa programs.
2. **Simplified Application Processes**: Countries like Finland have introduced fast-track procedures for highly skilled workers, allowing for rapid processing of applications and, in some cases, accommodating family members.
3. **Streamlined Work Permit Processes**: Spain has reduced requirements for certain applicants and allows international students to work after graduation, making it easier for skilled workers to enter the job market.
4. **Priority Lists for Skilled Jobs**: Denmark uses lists of jobs with high demand for skilled workers, providing a pathway for foreign workers to fill these gaps.
### Key Elements for Streamlining
- **Digital Solutions**: Implementing digital passports or platforms can simplify applications and reduce processing times. - **Strategic Job Lists**: Identifying and publishing lists of jobs in need of skilled workers helps focus recruitment efforts. - **Flexible Work Permit Policies**: Allowing students to work during or after studies facilitates the transition of skilled labor into the workforce.
These strategies aim to attract and retain skilled workers by making the immigration process more efficient and appealing.
### The State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers
In an attempt to address the skills shortage, a State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers has been established. The agency's operations involve cooperation between authorities, an employment agency, and companies. However, no specific information was provided about the establishment of the agency in April or its impact on the skills shortage in various sectors.
The bureaucracy and lengthy procedures faced by companies that want to hire people from third countries outside the EU remain unaddressed. Furthermore, the necessity of targeted immigration into the labor market to address the skills shortage and the cooperation between authorities, employment agency, and companies in the operations of the State Agency for the Immigration of Skilled Workers were not discussed.
The professional recognition process is complex and its simplification could play a significant role in attracting skilled workers from outside the EU. The federal government is urged to act quickly to address these challenges and implement strategies that will streamline the process for hiring skilled workers from abroad.
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- To address the economic and social consequences of the skills shortage, the professional recognition process needs to be simplified, enabling the easy integration of skilled workers from outside the EU in various sectors.
- In order to finance the pursuit of economic growth and address the skills shortage, the federal government should implement strategies that streamline the process for hiring skilled workers from third countries, including digital solutions, strategic job lists, and flexible work permit policies.
