In an attempt to ensure the smooth functioning of its industrial engine in the wake of its buoyant economy, Germany has come up with a surprising decision to combat its problem of shrinking labor force — it is seeking skilled workers from problems-plagued Greece!

While unemployment levels have been showing a disquieting increase in Greece, as well as European slowcoaches like Spain and Portugal, prosperous Germany is in a desperate need of skilled workers to keep its industries running.

The companies in Germany – which was quick to overcome the recession that started in 2008 – are so frantically searching skilled workers to keep shortages at bay that the government has assumed the role of a mediator between German companies and employment-seekers from the crisis-hit European countries.

As compared to a 20-year low of 6.6 percent unemployment rate in Germany, the jobless figures in Greece presently stand at 16.7 percent; while in Spain it is around the 20 percent mark. Moreover, the job scenario is also rather bleak in Portugal, Italy and Ireland, the other countries that have been hit badly by the debt crisis.

Revealing that the Federal Employment Agency has, over the last few months, organized numerous meetings to match German firms with job applicants from Greece, Spain, and Portugal, agency spokeswoman Beate Raabe said: “We really need physicians, nurses and engineers – and we have started recruiting them in those EU countries with high unemployment.”