The Ministry

Germany welcomed skilled workers from throughout the world

New travelling exhibition informed nationwide about the immigration of skilled workers

Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Ursula von der Leyen and Parliamentary State Secretary Peter Hintze of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology opened the travelling exhibition "Yes, we're open ‒ Welcome to Germany" at the Humboldt Box in Berlin today in the presence of the Senator for Labour, Integration and Women's Affairs of the State of Berlin, Dilek Kolat.

The exhibition aimed to foster a welcoming culture and an understanding for Germany's need for skilled immigrants. Since Germany was not able to meet its growing need for skilled workers through its domestic labour pool alone in the foreseeable future, it has opened its doors to qualified immigrants from throughout the world. During the last two years, the legal barriers to the immigration of qualified foreigners have been lowered significantly.

"Yes, we're open ‒ Welcome to Germany" was a joint project of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Federal Employment Agency. It was part of the Skilled-Labour Offensive to ensure that Germany has sufficient skilled labour on a long-term basis. This campaign had been launched to inform the public, enterprises and skilled workers about possibilities and prospects and to point out options.

The exhibition could have been seen in Berlin until 30 April 2013. It then toured Germany for two years. Admission was free.

Stations of the travelling exhibition:

  • Berlin, Humboldt Box, 17-30 April 2013
  • Dresden, Goethe Institute, 7-17 May 2013
  • Stuttgart, Haus der Wirtschaft, 22-31 May 2013
  • Potsdam, University of Potsdam, 17-28 June 2013
  • Dortmund, DASA, 2-28 July 2013
  • Hamburg, Museum der Arbeit, 2-14 August 2013
  • Düsseldorf, Agentur für Arbeit, 9-20 September 2013
  • Magdeburg, AMO, 12-27 October 2013
  • Freiburg, University of Freiburg, 19-29 November 2013
  • Jena, University of Jena, 3-15 December 2013
  • Köln, Rathaus im Spanischen Bau, 6-23 January 2014
  • Saarbrücken, Kulturzentrum Eurobahnhof, 24 February - 14 March 2014
  • Bremen, Rathaus Bremen, 25 March - 24 April 2014