German proficiency remains challenge for Vietnamese laborers amid Germany’s labor shortage

Matthias Kaiser, CEO of Germany’s Avestos HR UG Group, said that the labor shortage in Germany is becoming increasingly severe.

According to a survey by the Ifo Institute (Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich) in August 2024, up to 33.8 percent of German companies are facing difficulties in recruiting skilled labor. The number was 34.9 percent in April 2024.

Data from the German Federal Employment Agency shows that some industries, especially construction, have to wait an average of 281 days to find suitable employees. In 2024, 69,400 vocational positions were not registered in Germany.

To address this issue, many German businesses have turned to developing countries, particularly Vietnam, according to Kaiser.

For example, Avestos HR UG Group is signing agreements with Vietnamese colleges to recruit and train students, who will be taken to Germany immediately upon graduation for work.

There are many training programs supported by both the German and Vietnamese governments. Students are trained in mechanics, mechatronics, industrial electricity, and construction mechanics according to the German education system, and they will work in Germany afterward.

In 2023, about 4,000 Vietnamese people came to Germany for vocational education, accounting for up to 80 percent of all Vietnamese students in Germany.

Removing language barrier

Tran Anh Tuan, vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational Education Association, said that although there is a significant demand from Germany and readiness from Vietnam, the German language proficiency is still one major barrier preventing many Vietnamese students.

Unlike English, which is familiar to most students in Vietnam, German is an entirely new language for the majority of high school students.

"Many students say their biggest fear is German," said Tuan.

Meanwhile, most students who plan to study vocational education abroad only start learning German after graduating from high school. The common requirement from many programs is to reach a B1 or B2 level within nine to 12 months.

"Many students, even with Telc or Goethe certificates, still fail interviews with German companies due to a lack of practical response skills," Tuan added.

Many students have failed to get a visa or had to go to Germany to learn the language for six to 12 months because they did not meet the language requirements.

Tran Thanh Hai, principal of Vien Dong College in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that it is essential for students to start early and have a specific plan.

If students intend to study vocational education in Germany, they should start learning German from high school, ideally from the 10th or 11th grade. Early preparation helps build a strong foundation, giving enough time to familiarize themselves with German pronunciation, grammar, and thinking.

Nguyen Dac Hoan, director of Devis Joint Stock Company in Vietnam, believes that students should focus on developing all four skills -- listening, speaking, reading, and writing -- rather than just preparing for grammar exams.

Practicing communication reflexes is extremely important, as the vocational education and working environments in Germany require students to use German daily to talk to teachers and friends.

Students can use language-learning apps, join interactive online classes, or register for German-speaking clubs.

Interacting with and learning from those who have been through the process is essential.

Workshops and experience-sharing sessions from former vocational students in Germany can provide practical information, help alleviate anxiety, and motivate students to continue their language learning.