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The German Institute for Economic Research has said immigrants are welcome in Germany to fill significant skills gaps in an ageing population.

Germany and the UK have similar social problems ahead as a result of the baby boomer generation now growing older – baby boomers are the post-war generation born in the 1950s and 1960s who were witness to great social change. This generation is now in its sixties.

BBC News reports that Germany is one of the most popular countries for migrants to settle, as well as France. The UK is only fifth choice on the list of most popular countries in the EU for migrants to settle in.

Dr Ingrid Tucci from the German Institute for Economic Research says that Germany’s low birth rate among German nationals – as well as the country’s ageing population – makes it essential for Germany to embrace immigration from skilled workers who can fill the country’s skills gap. Germany calls its policy on actively welcoming migrants "Willkommenskultur".

“Immigrants are on average younger and the German population is on average older, so immigrants are welcome," said Dr Tucci.

“It's important to attract students and highly qualified people. So the government is making it easier for them, trying to invest and put a culture of welcome in place.”

Berlin’s Senator for work, integration and women, Dilek Kolat, is responsible for faciliatating Willkommenskultur and said:

"Every academic, every employer will tell you we need skilled migration. There's a change in perception in wider society.
"We don't look at migrants as a possible threat or a possible problem, but we look at them as potential.
“Businesses are approaching the senate and asking, ’How can we get the young refugees into apprenticeships which at the moment aren't taken up by German kids?’."

In the UK, there have also been calls to encourage more graduates from overseas to remain in Britain once they have finished their courses in the UK – especially in subjects where the UK has serious skills gaps such as engineering and science.

Leading entrepreneur and engineer Sir James Dyson has previously suggested the brightest engineering graduates should be handed a UK work visa at their graduation ceremony to prevent Britain losing the talent it has trained to other countries.

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