The DIHK Skilled Workers Report of 2023 reveals that every second company can only partially fill vacancies or cannot fill them at all. Only 14 percent of companies stated that they had no problems filling vacancies. Many companies are dependent on the support of highly qualified specialists from outside the EU.
With the recruitment of many employees from non-EU countries, internal processes, teams and habits are also being renegotiated and prejudices eliminated. Thus, the topic of interculturality in the working world plays a growing role for small and medium-sized enterprises – on the one hand to attract skilled workers and on the other hand to ensure innovation and progress.
Interculturality & Diversity- driving innovation and progress
Innovative ideas are created by bringing different perspectives and thoughts together. People with various cultural backgrounds add value to our work life. They bring a multitude of experiences, knowledge, and ways of working. By combining all those aspects brand new ideas and approaches get room to grow. Then again those will have a positive impact on the company’s success. ‘International skilled workers in SMEs‘, a study run by KOFA, emphasizes these arguments: companies that live interculturality and diversity are more successful on the long run.
Leading edge through a multitude of perspectives
Several abstracts about intercultural organization development highlight the fact that companies who promote cultural diversity not only are more successful but also have a clear competitive advantage. They understand the needs of international clients much better and react more flexible on international market requirements. Employees with intercultural competencies can build successful relationships and drive business on a global scale. Promoting interculturality is significantly changing the way you do business and will grow your business sustainably.
Boost your employer branding by embracing diversity
Intercultural employers are particularly popular – as study results are proving. The ‘Stepstone Diversity Report 2021’ states that 77% of the respondents will more likely apply for a company that lives diversity. 11.000 employees from a wide range of branches participated in that study. Comparing the direct ranking diversity in companies is even more important than family friendliness or career opportunities. Companies that really live and promote interculturality are THE place to work, especially for people from generations X and Y. Those companies will face less challenges in finding motivated qualified workers.
Challenges in adapting the work environment
The results of the new OECD study clearly show that Germany is not one of the ten OECD countries with the most attractive framework conditions for highly qualified international specialists. The reasons for this include the lack of internal structures and the lack of interculturality and diversity.
Companies who want to organize their collaboration with non-EU workers can prepare their employees with language- or intercultural trainings. Likewise, it is recommended to drive attention to products, job posts and company culture by running targeted employer branding campaigns. This will significantly impact your visibility and reach.
The recruiting campaign ‘#HalloIndia – Grab your German job!’ promotes interculturality
A great opportunity to proactively react to the shortage of skilled workers is the campaign ‘#HalloIndia’. It offers companies from Dresden a really unique chance: highly qualified tech talents from India will be recruited directly on spot and the companies can increase their presence on the Indian job market. By targeting highly qualified specialists from India, companies enlarge their talent pool and embrace valuable international perspectives and product variety. This campaign enables companies to promote innovation, gives space for a multitude of perspectives and ensures interculturality in the own company.
Consulting offers for an intercultural work environment
Embracing an intercultural environment requests the adaptation of company culture & processes. External consulting offers can be helpful to guarantee a smooth integration and collaboration. By running an intercultural workshop or training, misunderstandings can easily be avoided, and the road ahead is clear for a successful intercultural employee base.
