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Indian skilled workers in demand in Germany; students also surge, overtaking China
In 2015, there were 86,000 Indians working in Germany; their number shot up to over 280,000 last year. There are also 60,000 Indian students studying in German institutions
- PUBLISHED: Sat 28 Mar 2026, 7:00 AM
There is a growing demand for skilled Indians in Germany, especially in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sector. Similarly, the number of Indian students studying in Germany has also shot up, and their numbers have more than doubled in five years, making them the largest group of foreign students, overtaking even China.
Dr Philipp Ackermann, the German ambassador to India, has been encouraging Indian professionals to work in his country. “Here is my call to all highly skilled Indians,” Ackermann wrote on X. “Germany stands out with its stable migration policies and great job opportunities for Indians in IT, management, science and tech.”
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According to Ackermann, "The average Indian working in Germany earns more than the average German. Because a high salary means Indians are contributing big time to our society and our welfare. We believe in hard work and giving the best jobs to the best people.”
The number of Indian professionals and skilled workers has shot up significantly in recent years. In 2015, there were 86,000 Indians working in Germany; the numbers shot up to over 280,000 last year. The number of skilled Indian workers has gone up from 23,000 about 10 years ago to more than 130,000 at present.
The Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership, signed between the two countries in December 2022, streamlined the process for Indian professionals from the IT, engineering, healthcare and manufacturing sectors in Germany.
Besides Indians working in the STEM sectors, many are also drawn to the MINT (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, and technology) segment. About a third of Indians working full-time in Germany are in the 25-44 age bracket and in highly skilled technical jobs.
A recent study by Handelsblatt, a German publication, noted that Indians working in the country earned almost 30 per cent more than Germans. Mayank Kumar, CEO and co-founder of BorderPlus, an India-based international recruiting consultancy, told the media recently that Germany has a targeted approach in sectors like healthcare, where there is a shortage of nurses.
Meanwhile, the number of Indians in German universities is also increasing. Indian students are entitled to long working hours, and after graduation, they have extended time for searching jobs and easier visa processes.
About 60,000 Indian students were studying in German institutions in 2025.
