Niedersachsen Launches Welcome Center to Attract International Skilled Workers Amid Labor Shortages

In response to acute labor shortages across multiple sectors, Niedersachsen's Landkreis Harburg is set to open the Welcome Center Landkreis Harburg, a dedicated service hub aimed at supporting local companies in recruiting and integrating international skilled workers. This initiative targets small and medium enterprises, which face increased pressure to secure qualified professionals due to an aging workforce and a decline in young local workers.

From 2015 to 2022, the region saw a 27% rise in insured employment — surpassing both state and national growth rates. Key industries struggling with skilled labor deficits include healthcare, logistics, IT, construction, and tourism.

The Welcome Center, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF+), the state of Niedersachsen, and Landkreis Harburg, will operate for three years. It will offer multilingual counseling services both digitally and in person through staff members Ulrike Kessler and Clara Kohlstedt. The center will coordinate closely with Heidekreis district’s Welcome Center and is scheduled to begin advisory activities in the second quarter of 2026. An official inauguration event is planned for mid-April by Landrat Rainer Rempe, who emphasized the challenges smaller companies face in recruiting international talent due to limited resources.

This initiative complements broader discussions about securing local economic value and employment. For instance, a survey commissioned by IG Metall reveals that 70% of Germans support legal requirements for companies selling products in Europe to maintain local production. Furthermore, 90% back subsidies only for firms securing European jobs, and 83% favor public contracts being awarded solely to companies guaranteeing secure employment within Europe. IG Metall’s Jürgen Kerner criticized the German government's hesitance towards such policies, highlighting the need to strengthen Europe’s industrial base and secure jobs. The ongoing delays in the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act, due to disagreements over local content rules, have raised concerns about their negative impact on investment and job security.

Together, these initiatives and opinions reflect a dual approach in Niedersachsen and across Germany: attracting essential international skilled labor while advocating for reinforced local job security and value creation within European markets.