Evolution of labour migration policy

Labour migration policy in Germany was long associated with the guestworker programmes of the 1950s and 1960s. A general recruitment ban closed this era in 1973, with exceptions to this ban accumulating for skilled and highly skilled workers but also seasonal and certain short-term workers. In the 2000s, opportunities to recruit for skilled employment expanded, with a programme for IT workers in the early 2000s and a growing list of eligible occupations following a new Immigration Act in 2005. The contract offered must meet certain criteria and while highly skilled workers are admitted without major obstacles, there are few options to recruit for medium-skilled occupations. Changes in 2012 simplified the procedure and improved conditions for many skilled workers, introducing an EU Blue Card exempting many applicants from a labour market test.