In a commentary published on the morning of 9 October 2026, Handelsblatt’s chief economist Bert Rürup argues that Germany’s sluggish private-sector investment can only be reversed by expanding the talent pool through immigration. Citing fresh labour-market data, Rürup notes that nearly half of all job growth since 2014 has come from non-EU nationals and warns that demographic decline will accelerate after 2027 as baby boomers retire. The economist urges policymakers to reduce bureaucratic hurdles in the new Skilled Immigration Act and speed up foreign-qualification recognition. He also calls for English-language “fast lanes” at foreigners’ authorities in major industrial regions so that engineers and IT specialists can receive residence permits within four weeks. For corporates, Rürup proposes a public-private “welcome fund” that would subsidise initial language training for new hires and their spouses, modelled on Singapore’s global-talent grant. He argues that the cost—an estimated €600 million a year—would be outweighed by higher income-tax receipts and productivity gains. The op-ed arrives amid fierce parliamentary debate on tightening parts of asylum policy. HR leaders may find in it fresh talking points to defend international recruitment budgets against cost-cutting drives.
Source: Handelsblatt
