Germany Faces Looming Worker Shortage Due to Aging Workforce, Prompting Calls for Delayed Retirement and More Immigration

Germany facing major worker shortage due to aging population; could lack 7 million skilled workers by 2035
Economy Minister says worker shortage has reduced Germany's economic growth potential from 2% in 1980s to 0.7% now
Proposes financial incentives for older workers to stay in workforce longer to help address shortage
Says Germany needs more immigration and must become more "immigration friendly" to bridge workforce gap
Nationalist AfD party polling at record highs, showing Germans divided on increased immigration