Around 546,000 citizens from Western Balkan countries are employed in Germany in jobs covered by social security, including workers from Kosovo.
According to Germany’s Federal Employment Agency, the number of workers from the region has increased by approximately 170,000 over the past five years. <Cite refs={[“turn345817search0”]}/>
However, this employment scheme could change next year. The German government plans to halve the annual quota for workers from the Western Balkans starting in January 2027, reducing it from 50,000 to 25,000 people.
The Federal Employment Agency opposes the proposed reduction and is calling for the current quota to remain unchanged, arguing that demand for workers in Germany remains high.
“The Western Balkans Regulation demonstrates strong labour market integration and demand for workers,” said Vanessa Ahuja, a member of the Federal Employment Agency’s executive board responsible for benefits and international affairs.
According to Ahuja, the current quota was already insufficient to accommodate all applications in 2025 and is expected to be exhausted again before the end of 2026.
She warned that halving the quota could weaken an established migration scheme and make it more difficult for German companies to recruit workers.
Western Balkan Workers Fill Labour Shortages
Data from the Federal Employment Agency show that 53% of employed workers from the Western Balkans approximately 287,000 people work in positions requiring at least skilled-worker status, even though the regulation does not necessarily require formal qualifications.
Around 45% of these workers are employed in occupations experiencing labour shortages. The main sectors include construction, transport and logistics, hospitality, and care services.
What Does the Regulation Mean for Workers from Kosovo?
The Western Balkans Regulation, introduced in 2016, allows citizens of Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to obtain German employment visas through simplified procedures.
The regulation covers various types of employment, including jobs that do not require specific professional qualifications.
Employment approval is granted by Germany’s Federal Employment Agency, while quotas are allocated by month and nationality. Applications can be processed only while the monthly quota for the relevant nationality has not been exhausted.
If the German government’s plan is implemented, fewer places will be available from January 2027 for workers from all six countries covered by the regulation, including Kosovo.
