Last night, around 120 entrepreneurs and experts from politics and science gathered at Dresden City Hall. The Office for Economic Development had invited them to an information day to discuss one of the most pressing economic challenges of our time: the shortage of skilled workers and the integration of foreign skilled workers.
Dresden in growth: integration as the key to the future
Mr. Jan Pratzka, Dresden's Mayor for Economic Affairs, presented the impressive figures: The city has 280,000 employees subject to compulsory insurance and plans to create 10,000 new jobs in the north of the city. With 98,000 commuters coming to Dresden every day, the city is a magnet for workers. Of the more than 4,000 new jobs created in the last two years, an impressive 75 percent have been filled by skilled foreign workers. The top countries of origin of these new employees are Poland, the Czech Republic, Syria, India and Ukraine.
By 2030, the number of foreigners living in the city will increase to around 80,000. The integration of these people is therefore an essential part of urban development in order to offer them real prospects through apprenticeships, jobs and housing.
Impulse lectures and panel discussion: Ways of integration
During the event, various experts had their say, shedding light on the need for integration from a variety of perspectives. Gerlinde Hildebrand from the Employment Agency and Sylvia Pfefferkorn from the initiative "Wirtschaft für ein weltoffenes Sachsen" (WWS) spoke about the importance of networking and political commitment. They emphasized that integration requires more than just providing jobs - it also requires education, change management and support for small businesses.
Challenges and solutions
Business representatives such as James Robson, Vice President, and Katja Richter, HR Manager, from Applied Materials GmbH highlighted the importance of a diverse and inclusive working environment and reported on the challenges posed by language barriers. Kevin Hache from Bürgeramt explained the bureaucratic hurdles and the vision of a one-stop policy to help foreign professionals find their way around.
James Robson shared his personal experience of integration in Germany and the concept of the "buddy" system at Applied Materials. Katja Richter spoke about the challenges of xenophobia and the importance of cultural integration.
A cosmopolitan Saxony: commitment and perspectives
Despite political challenges, such as the high number of AfD voters in Saxony, the event showed that the commitment to an inclusive and open society in Dresden and Saxony is strong.
Conclusion
The information day impressively demonstrated that Dresden and Saxony are ready to tackle the challenges of integrating foreign skilled workers in order to shape a shared, prosperous future.
