Podcast Summary: "Germany turns to India for skilled workers"

Podcast: Business Daily by BBC World Service
Host: Tim Mansell
Date: March 17, 2026
Episode Theme: Exploring Germany’s strategic partnership with India to address labor shortages by recruiting young Indian apprentices in skilled trades and professions.

Episode Overview

This episode examines Germany's growing reliance on young Indian workers to fill critical skilled trade positions as the country's domestic workforce shrinks. Through the stories of Indian apprentices, German employers, and recruiters, the episode sheds light on the motives, challenges, and profound impact of this migration—on both Germany and India.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis of Indo-German Apprenticeship Initiatives (01:17–04:17)

• Initial Pilot: In late 2022, 13 young Indians arrived in southern Germany to begin apprenticeships in the meat business.
• Expansion: Just over three years later, over 200 Indian apprentices are working across butcher shops in the region, with numbers growing in other trades such as mechanics, truck drivers, and even kindergarten teachers.
• Mutual Necessity:
  • Indian perspective: Many young Indians are seeking better living standards, social security, and reliable income.
  • German perspective: German businesses are facing acute labor shortages, particularly as more young Germans pursue university over vocational training.

"Germany without foreign workers, without people from other countries couldn't exist. We need people from abroad. And without them, our society wouldn't work."
— Indian Apprentice (02:12)

2. Personal Stories of Indian Apprentices (03:26–04:56, 13:06–14:14)

• Ajay Kumar Chandapaka: A mechanic apprentice from Hyderabad, trained as a mechanical engineer in India but lacked hands-on experience and job prospects.
  • Motivation to move: higher salary, better safety standards, advanced technology.
  • First time leaving home and flying abroad.
  • Personal and professional growth through German apprenticeship.

"When I landed in Germany it felt like a dream."
— Ajay Kumar Chandapaka (04:59)

• Anneka Maria Shazi: Studied computer science in Kerala and sought international experience. Used earnings to renovate her family home.

"Either I need to buy like or build a house or I need to renovate it ... And I did everything by myself, like every plan and everything."
— Anneka Maria Shazi (13:42)

• Pratyay Saikiya: From Assam with a degree in food technology. Chose Germany for equal dignity of all jobs, strict work ethics, and future prospects.
  • Intends to build a future in Germany rather than return to India.

"I thought that maybe it would be a good opportunity to work in a country where, you know, all sorts of jobs are treated with equal dignity."
— Pratyay Saikiya (14:56)

3. Why German Businesses Turn to India (05:06–06:44)

• Labor Shortage: Boomer retirement causing a net loss of ~400,000 workers annually.
• Youth Preference: Young Germans favor university over skilled trades, resulting in talent scarcity.
• International Recruitment: Agencies like India Works facilitate recruiting Indian apprentices for roles Germans aren't filling.

"We just couldn't get young people anymore. And then India came to us and told us they had too many young people and they'd love to send them to Germany to learn a trade ... this was our last chance for survival."
— Yogi Lederer, head of local butcher’s guild (12:13)

4. The Role of Recruitment Agencies (06:44–08:31)

• India Works & Magic Billion: Collaborative effort between Indian and German agencies to bridge the workforce gap.
  • Initially, pilot programs started with butchery, an unexpected challenge given Indian cultural sensitivities around cows.
  • The program quickly expanded to include bakers, masons, road builders, healthcare workers, and more.

"India, as you know, is a country with 600 million people below the age of 25 ... there's a huge labor surplus in the country."
— Aditi Banerjee, Magic Billion co-founder (07:41)

5. Scaling Up: Numbers & Professions (09:22–10:20)

• Growth: From 13 apprentices in 2022 to 200 in butchery alone by 2026.
• Broader Impact: 775 enrolled Indian candidates are training across a spectrum of skilled trades for upcoming years.

"For 2026 we have 775 enrolled candidates who have already passed their language certificate and language exam or are still undergoing training across the board in all sorts of different."
— Hand von Unen Sternberg, recruitment agency leader (09:54–10:10)

6. Changing the Image of Migration (10:30–11:13)

• Beyond Doctors and Engineers: The traditional image of skilled Indian emigrants is broadening—now including those with high school education pursuing trade apprenticeships.
• Financial Uplift: Young Indians can earn up to ten times more than in comparable skilled roles back home.

"You don't have to go outside of India only once you have a bachelor's or a master's, you can go even after you've completed your high school at age of 18."
— Aditi Banerjee (10:36)

7. Kindergarten Teachers: The Next Frontier (16:01–17:30)

• Public Sector Shortages: Town halls mirror the hiring challenges of private businesses.
• Initial Recruitment: The city of Weil am Rhein recruits Indian apprentices for kindergarten teaching—contrary to stereotypes, initial recruits were men.

"Actually they're men. At the beginning I thought, oh well, we will get Indian ladies coming to Germany, but actually those two we have found are men."
— Diana Stuka, Mayor (17:20)

8. National Policy and Future Outlook (17:30–18:26)

• Political Backing: Discussions at the national level (German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Indian PM Narendra Modi) about migration channels for skilled workers.
• Ambitious Goals: Recruitment agencies aim to bring 10,000 Indian workers to Germany by 2030—and are on track due to worsening demographic challenges domestically.

"We started this company in 2024 and our goal was to bring in 10,000 people by the end of the decade 2030. We are very confident that we are reaching this goal ..."
— Hand von Unen Sternberg (18:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Yogi Lederer on Survival:
  "If you had not made this investment in young people from India, your business would have collapsed. I wouldn't be in business today if it weren't for India." (12:13)

• Anneka Maria Shazi on Achievements:
  "I bought every furniture, everything by myself. So I was so busy that three months. So I didn't even get to relax." (13:42)

• Pratyay Saikiya on Life Choices:
  "If I were to go back to India, I would have never come here in the first place ... maybe I should build a future here and adapt to the life here." (15:41)

• Diana Stuka on Surprising Outcomes:
  "...those two we have found are men." (17:28)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 01:17 | Introduction to the program and early apprentices| | 02:12 | Indian viewpoints on labor migration | | 03:26 | Ajay’s personal apprenticeship journey | | 05:06 | Employer perspective on labor shortages | | 06:44 | The beginning and scale-up of international recruitment | | 07:41 | India’s demographic context by recruiter | | 12:13 | Butcher guild head describes business survival | | 13:42 | Anneka’s personal achievement and family support | | 14:56 | Pratyay’s motivations and long-term plans | | 16:01 | Public sector and kindergarten hiring | | 17:30 | National policy and future scaling |

Conclusion

This episode paints a vivid picture of Germany’s new reliance on skilled Indian apprentices to keep vital trades and public services running. The partnership is shown to invigorate German businesses and transform the lives of young Indians, signaling a shift towards a more diverse, interconnected workforce shaped by demographic and economic realities in both countries.