While the surge of refugees entering Europe this year has led many state leaders to become more protective of their borders, Germany’s top politicians have handled the situation differently. Humanitarian reasoning aside, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel have framed this influx of people as a chance to combat the “Fachkräftemangel”—Germany’s shortage of skilled labor, which is predicted to rise dramatically due to its aging baby boomer population and high birth deficit.