Best Skilled Crafts and Trades Jobs in Germany for Foreigners in 2023

By Writer Last updated Mar 13, 2023

What are the most sought-after skilled crafts and trades jobs in Germany? You’ve probably considered working overseas. Do you prefer to work with your hands, or are you more of an artisan? Which industry would you want to work in—construction or retail? You may choose the most extraordinary country to live and work in by finding the perfect job that fits your background and personality. Continue reading to learn more.

Working in German as a Skilled Crafts and Tradesman

Jobs in skilled trades and crafts are among the most popular occupations foreign workers in Germany pursue. Employment in skilled crafts and trades expanded by 22% between 2008 and 2015, according to the National Association of German Employers (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände, or BDA), with the peak levels of employment reaching over 200,000 people in 2015.

Germany is one of the greatest nations to work in if you want to work in this field because of its significant population and the wide range of skilled trades and crafts occupations, from carpentry to hairdressing. However, this is not the only reason. One of the reasons so many foreigners are drawn to Germany is because there are so many different specialized trades and crafts employment available there.

There are around 41 million people employed in Germany, with the service sector accounting for about two-thirds of those jobs and manufacturing for the remaining third. Jobs in Germany are in great demand, yet trained craftsmen and artisans can only obtain the more desirable jobs in this nation’s economy. Many skilled trades and crafts employment accessible for those wishing to begin their careers in Germany. These tasks, particularly prevalent in the manufacturing industry, entail employing machines to produce various goods, including electronic devices and automotive parts.

Additionally, they are in demand since fewer people in Germany have the necessary abilities, particularly those outside the EU. This guide will assist you in locating the top skilled crafts or trades jobs in Germany depending on your qualifications and region if you are considering applying and have some prior experience.

What are Skilled Crafts and Trades?

The backbone of small and medium-sized businesses and Germany’s economic engine are skilled crafts and trades. Because of their close connection to their clients, they can produce high-quality goods and develop custom solutions to issues. The manufacturing industry, commerce, and the public sector are all targeted audiences for skilled crafts and trades. Additionally, the skilled crafts and trades sector is very diverse and comprises the following fields:

Construction and development
Metal and electronics
Wood and plastics
Industrial cleaning
Artisanal food production
Healthcare and personal hygiene
Clothing, textile, and leather
Graphic design

How to Become a Craftsman in Germany

You can apply for vocational training as a foreigner if you speak German at level B1 and have an international school diploma (minimum of 9 grades). In Germany, all vocational training begins every year around the end of August or the beginning of September. To ensure you receive all the necessary documentation, including a visa, on time, overseas applicants wishing to pursue vocational training should submit their applications at least six months in advance.

Craftsmen can become self-employed, or start their businesses, in Germany after passing the vocational training exams and acquiring some work experience. This will allow them to make even more money. This applies to all international applicants, including those from non-EU nations. Additionally, there are excellent professional chances in Germany as an employee of craft enterprises, the public sector, or the industry after completing a successful vocational training program. Additionally, skilled artisans from Germany are frequently in-demand and well-paid professionals overseas.

Best Skilled Crafts and Trades Jobs in Germany

The skilled crafts and trades also include a high level of innovation, a long tradition, and dual vocational training for 2 to 3.5 years. They are, therefore, future-proof and present attractive promotion opportunities like additional education and expert self-employment as master artisans. Here are the most sought-after careers you may pursue in Germany in 2023 that don’t necessitate German language proficiency, whether you’re interested in plumbing or construction. The following fields require qualified experts:

Tinsmith:

As a tinsmith, you will perform various preparatory tasks for constructing metal or plastic units. You will then install it in properties, for example, on roofs or facades. For example, this can be in newly constructed or renovated buildings to fulfill new environmental constraints in energy utilization systems, water drainage, and thermal insulation.

Plumber for sanitary, heating, and air-conditioning technology:

In this field, you will install water and air supply systems (toilet assemblies) in buildings and heating systems, such as solar power units, heat pumps, and wood pellet heating systems. Aside from the manual and mechanical processing of pipes, sheet metal, and sections, you will be responsible for regularly inspecting the functionality of the various systems after installation. You will also install innovative home systems and device-specific software.

Structural engineering:

Concrete and steel construction worker: Alongside the production of concrete or reinforced concrete, you will fabricate the formwork before continuing to process the individual elements on building sites, for example, to construct staircases, walls, bridges, and dams.
In furnace and chimney construction, you will be high up in the air working next to chimneys up to 300 m tall. Aside from producing fireproof structures, you will also install various insulation materials, for example, for protection against cold or thermal insulation. Your field of work also includes the installation of lightning protection systems.
As a mason, you will mainly work outside on building sites independently and with a team of colleagues, site managers, and architects. Your field of work includes masonry and planning and constructing the necessary components.
As a floorer, you will be an integral part of construction projects: customer consultations and subsoil preparation, laying the floor itself, and, if required, further surface finishing. You can obtain a master craftsperson qualification in the field of parquetry.

Electrical engineers with a specialization in energy technology:

In this profession, you will be involved from design/planning and production/installation of the electronic systems until the final handover and after-sales support. Vacant positions are mainly found in automation engineering, electric utility, mechanical engineering, plant construction, and vehicle construction.

Industrial cleaning:

In this essential profession, you will work in office buildings or public buildings, such as administrative buildings, hospitals, and swimming pools, as well as in public transport and parks. Acting strategically is required to be able to select the appropriate tools and dosage of cleaning agents.

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FAQs

Furthermore, here are some of the most commonly asked questions about crafts and trades jobs in Germany.

Can a foreign woman get work as a craftsman/ craftswoman?

In Germany, women and men have equal access to all craft professions. You can learn any skilled trade as a woman. This applies to you even if you do not identify as a male or female.

Can non-EU citizens become craftsmen in Germany?

You can work as a craftsman in Germany even if you are not an EU resident. You can either enroll in a vocational school in Germany or get your foreign degree as a recognized craftsman so you can start working immediately. If you have a school diploma (at least nine grades) and speak German at level B1, you can pursue vocational training as a tradesman without issues. Other qualifications and the applicant’s age are frequently considered less significant factors.