The IAB, the research arm of the Federal Employment Agency, thinks 140, 000 a year is possible.

ECONOMIST: Germany's labour market

If it fails, there will be pressure to break up the Federal Employment Agency, or privatise it.

ECONOMIST: A new and controversial law takes effect this weekend

In cooperation with the German Federal Employment Agency, an experimental project has recruited an initial 150 nurses from China to work in hospitals and nursing homes beginning in early 2014.

CNN: Where have Europe's nurses gone?