howabout Your Qn:
"German changes to encourage more skilled worker immigration. Are they entering a bidding war with the UK?"
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All Europe, including the UK have demographic problems, with a population that is aging,
that needs more professionals & skilled workers,
but where there are more unskilled people than suitable jobs for them, particularly because of automation
So skilled immigrants are an obvious solution.
Countries that offer the best pay and conditions will have a better chance of getting the "pick" of immigrants.
However, with billions of eager workers in India & China, millions with degrees,
there should be plenty of immigrants from there for everyone.
Germany
has the advantages of its powerful economy, the engineroom of Europe
which provides a wide choice wellpaid and satisfying career opportunities.
of excellent infrastructure and public services
It also has a strong currency, so pay is attractive
The use of English language is being used increasingly on official forms, business, even train announcements,
so it makes life easier for those who don't initilly speak German
Germany allows close family of non-EEA citizens to accompany them, providing the family as a whole is self-supporting.
i.e. No minimum income / wealth requirement for spouses.
German law is firm on not allowing rights to be removed retrospectively, so noone need worry that a change in govt polics will suddenly turn their lives upside down.
Maybe just as important:
successive government have been welcoming to immigrants. This is just a sustained push to increase numbers, but there has never been govt policy of a "hostile environment"
The UK
has the great advantage of the English language, which is a major consideration when making a new life far away.
That's it's only real advantage though
It is additionally a magnet because of having no ID and for non-contributory benefits,
but that means it tends to attract some immigrants that Germany wouldn't be looking for.
Disadvantages for immigrants:
Currency that has been devaluing relative to Germany since WW2, more sharply recently and may worsen
Ditto the economy
Class prejudice / not one of us / wrong school can be significant in career progression
Worst of all: years of a govt "hostile environment" to foreigners.
My Indian colleague tells me this has become well known in his country and he wouldn't have even considered the UK unless as a last resort.
The UK has the problem that large sections of the population and the govt hate immigration in principle.
This results in them being invited, but made clear to them they they are not actually wanted, whatever their nationality
This differs from the rest of the EU, where FOM for European citizens has never been an issue
and immigrants from India, China, S Korea etc are also generally welcomed
but those from the Middle East / North Africa are often not.
So, at least the UK has equal-opportunity xenophobia !