A INNOVATIVE region of Germany has taken an intergalactic step to recruit the most extraordinary talent – by enticing aliens to work there.
Baden-Wurttemberg, situated near Stuttgart in the middle of the country, is a leading business and industrial hub with world-famous brands like Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and Bosch all based in the area.
4
4
EMPLOYMENT FEARS
But a skilled labor shortage has officials worried companies will be searching for around 500,000 workers by 2030.
The region, known as The Land, offers an excellent standard of living and lucrative opportunities for anyone interested in moving there.
Yet the fear of being caught short has forced local authorities to extend the invitation to anyone — including aliens who happen to be looking for work.
The world’s first ever purpose-built landing strip for extra-terrestrials has been built, along with a welcome terminal to help entice inhabitants of other planets to come and see what Baden-Wurttemberg has to offer.
While the surrounding area boasts numerous, standard zones for airplane landings, the one created for passing spaceships was placed on a high plateau, making it the most visible spot for extraterrestrial life.
“The shortage of skilled labor is one of the biggest problems of our time,” said Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann.
“Baden-Württemberg will need a mid-six-figure amount of skilled workers by 2030.
“We have to invite skilled workers to come here, no matter where they come from. To any intelligent life out there: LÄND HERE.”
The campaign is certainly tongue in cheek – they are, unsurprisingly, still waiting for their first alien visitor – but the reality isn’t.
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Baden-Wurttemberg is home to an impressive 149 companies, and offers people a whopping 28.8 vacation days a year.
Germany is in the midst of an employment crisis – an aging population allied with people having fewer children have left experts worried about future workforce challenges.
Kretschmann wants the push for skilled labor to reach all corners of the earth and beyond.
NEW LIFE
“We want to make it unmissable to all intelligent life exactly why they should take the idea of ‘landing here very seriously,” he said.
It’s unclear if any aliens hoping for a new start in life will be able to speak German, or have passports.
“We’re an innovative state,” Eva Bankoley, head of marketing for the State Ministry, told The U.S. Sun with a smile.” We will figure it out!”
“We thought if we made the sign big enough, it would attract attention from the universe,” she added. “I’ve been there with my kids, but the only aliens we saw were them behaving strangely.”
Nobel Prize winner Harald zur Hausen, who played a decisive role in the development of the world’s first vaccine against cancer, is from the region where 11 million people live and enjoy a “diverse cultural landscape.”
Whether alien lifeforms would agree, remains to be seen.
“You never know,” said Eva. “But we will find out.”
4
