Fluchtmigrantinnen und -migranten – Bildung und Arbeitsmarkt
Auf der Flucht vor Krieg und politischer Verfolgung verlassen viele Menschen ihr Heimatland und suchen Schutz und neue Perspektiven in Deutschland und beantragen Asyl. Die Beteiligung am Arbeitsmarkt wird häufig als Schlüssel für die gesellschaftliche Integration der Fluchtmigrantinnen und -migranten gesehen.
Welche Qualifikationen bringen die Menschen mit, welche arbeitsmarktpolitischen Maßnahmen sind hilfreich? Wie gehen die einzelnen Bundesländer damit um, welche Auswirkungen auf die deutsche Wirtschaft und die Sozialsysteme sind zu erwarten, wie sieht die Situation in anderen Ländern aus?
Dieses Themendossier stellt wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zum Thema zusammen und ermöglicht den Zugang zu weiterführenden Informationen sowie zu Positionen der politischen Akteure.
Literatur zur besonderen Situation der Geflüchteten aus der Ukraine finden Sie im
Themendossier Auswirkungen des Krieges gegen die Ukraine auf Wirtschaft, Arbeitsmarkt und Fluchtmigration in Deutschland
- Literatur und Forschung aus dem IAB
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Zur Situation in Deutschland
- Positionen und Stellungnahmen
- zur Rechtslage
- Bildungstand und -förderung / Anerkennung von Qualifikation
- betriebliche Berufsausbildung/Berufsorientierung
- Studium
- Arbeitsmarktintegration, Maßnahmen und Programme
- Betriebe und Wirtschaftsbereiche
- Beschäftigungsformen
- Erwerbstätigkeit und Arbeitslosigkeit
- Geflüchtete im SGB II
- Löhne
- Arbeitsmarkteffekte der Flüchtlingszuwanderung
- Regionale Aspekte, Wohnsitzauflage
- Rückwanderung
- Daten und Statistik
- Quellen mit Unterscheidung nach Herkunftsregion
- Quellen mit Geschlechtsbezug
- Quellen mit Altersbezug
- Quellen mit regionalem Bezug
- Zur Situation in anderen Ländern
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Literaturhinweis
The Social Integration of International Migrants: Evidence from the Networks of Syrians in Germany (2026)
Bailey, Michael; Johnston, Drew ; Russel, Dominic; Koenen, Martin ; Stroebel, Johannes ; Kuchler, Theresa ;Zitatform
Bailey, Michael, Drew Johnston, Theresa Kuchler, Martin Koenen, Dominic Russel & Johannes Stroebel (2026): The Social Integration of International Migrants: Evidence from the Networks of Syrians in Germany. In: Journal of Political Economy, Jg. 134, H. 4, S. 1159-1209. DOI:10.1086/739335
Abstract
"We use de-identified data from Facebook to study the social integration of Syrian migrants in Germany, a country that received a large influx of refugees during the Syrian Civil War. We construct measures of migrants' social integration based on Syrians' friendship links to Germans, their use of the German language, and their participation in local social groups. We find large variation in Syrians' social integration across German counties, and use a movers' research design to document that these differences are largely due to causal effects of place. Regional differences in the social integration of Syrians are shaped both by the rate at which German natives befriend other locals in general (general friendliness) and the relative rate at which they befriend local Syrian migrants versus German natives (relative friending). We follow the friending behavior of Germans that move across locations to show that both general friendliness and relative friending are more strongly affected by place-based effects such as local institutions than by persistent individual characteristics of natives (e.g., attitudes toward neighbors or migrants). Relative friending is higher in areas with lower unemployment and more completed government-sponsored integration courses. Using variation in teacher availability as an instrument, we find that integration courses had a substantial causal effect on the social integration of Syrian migrants. We also use fluctuations in the presence of Syrian migrants across high school cohorts to show that natives with quasi-random expo-sure to Syrians in school are more likely to befriend other Syrian migrants in other settings, suggesting that contact between groups can shape subsequent attitudes towards migrants." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Gesundheitssystem bleibt für Geflüchtete in den ersten Jahren nach Ankunft schwer zugänglich (2026)
Zitatform
Biddle, Louise, Andrea Marchitto & Elena Sommer (2026): Gesundheitssystem bleibt für Geflüchtete in den ersten Jahren nach Ankunft schwer zugänglich. In: DIW-Wochenbericht, Jg. 93, H. 22, S. 331-337. DOI:10.18723/diw_wb:2026-22-1
Abstract
"Geflüchtete haben nach ihrer Ankunft in Deutschland oft einen erhöhten medizinischen Versorgungsbedarf. Beim Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung sind sie jedoch mit verschiedenen Hürden konfrontiert. Auswertungen der IAB-BAMF-SOEP- Befragung von Geflüchteten für die Jahre 2023 und 2024 zeigen, dass wahrgenommene Wartezeiten, große Entfernun gen und finanzielle Hürden die bedarfsgerechte Versorgung in den ersten Jahren nach Ankunft einschränken. Zudem bereitet die Orientierung im komplexen deutschen Gesundheitssys tem vielen Geflüchteten Schwierigkeiten, etwa beim Finden professioneller Hilfe, beim Verständnis medizinischer Abläufe oder bei Vorsorgeuntersuchungen. Diese Herausforderun gen betreffen sowohl Geflüchtete aus der Ukraine als auch aus anderen Herkunftsländern, unterscheiden sich jedoch nach der Aufenthaltsdauer. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung niedrigschwelliger Unterstützungsangebote, etwa durch Gesundheitslots*innen. Der Abbau rechtlicher und organisatorischer Zugangshürden ist dabei nicht nur aus gesundheitlicher, sondern auch aus ökonomischer Perspek tive sinnvoll: Verzögerte oder ausbleibende Behandlungen erhöhen das Risiko vermeidbarer Folgekosten. Einschrän kungen im rechtlichen Anspruch auf Gesundheitsversorgung bergen hingegen das Risiko weiterer Versorgungslücken." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Exploring integration and migration dynamics: the research potentials of a large-scale longitudinal household study of refugees in Germany (2026)
Brücker, Herbert ; Rother, Nina ; Siegert, Manuel ; Schwanhäuser, Silvia ; Zinn, Sabine ; Kosyakova, Yuliya ; Liebau, Elisabeth ; Gider, Wenke ;Zitatform
Brücker, Herbert, Yuliya Kosyakova, Nina Rother, Sabine Zinn, Elisabeth Liebau, Wenke Gider, Silvia Schwanhäuser & Manuel Siegert (2026): Exploring integration and migration dynamics: the research potentials of a large-scale longitudinal household study of refugees in Germany. In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 42, H. 1, S. 146-163., 2025-06-23. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcaf032
Abstract
"Forced migration has intensified in the 21st century, driven by conflicts, persecution, and political instability in regions such as the Middle East, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, South-East Asia, Latin America and, most recently, Ukraine. Germany has become a primary destination for refugees within the European Union and one of the largest among the OECD countries. The IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey, lunched in 2016, is a high-quality longitudinal household panel study that documents the arrival and integration trajectories of refugees who came to Germany during and after the 2015/16 surge. Based on a register-based random sample and conducted annually, the survey is integrated into the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) and linked to administrative data sources, allowing for population-level inference and rich longitudinal analyses. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including pre-migration biographies, flight experiences, entry and arrival procedures, legal status, and integration processes. The dataset includes approximately 22,000 individual respondents across 6,500 households, with data currently available for the years 2016 to 2022. This paper discusses the analytical potential of the dataset, highlighting areas where the data contributes to research on forced migration and refugee integration, and subsequently outlines the survey’s structure, questionnaire topics, and key descriptive statistics." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Bisher geringe Migration aus Iran – aber 28 Prozent der Iraner*innen mit Migrationsabsichten präferieren Deutschland als Zielland (2026)
Zitatform
Brücker, Herbert, Tanja Fendel, Maria Theresa Koch, Felix Stips & Andreas B. Vortisch (2026): Bisher geringe Migration aus Iran – aber 28 Prozent der Iraner*innen mit Migrationsabsichten präferieren Deutschland als Zielland. In: IAB-Forum H. 19.06.2026. DOI:10.48720./IAB.FOO.20260619.01
Abstract
"Trotz des Krieges mit den USA und Israel und derzeit offener Grenzen zu den meisten Nachbarstaaten gibt es keine Anzeichen für eine stärkere Fluchtbewegung von Menschen aus Iran in andere Länder. Sollte es dazu kommen, wäre Deutschland eines der Hauptzielländer. Zugleich legen die bisherigen Erfahrungen hierzulande nahe, dass die Integrationschancen insbesondere weiblicher Geflüchteter aus dem Iran im Schnitt höher sind als bei Geflüchteten aus anderen Ländern." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
Beteiligte aus dem IAB
Brücker, Herbert ; Fendel, Tanja ; Koch, Maria Theresa; Vortisch, Andreas B. ; Stips, Felix ; -
Literaturhinweis
Time and resilience. Evidence from a new survey of refugees and asylum seekers in Italy (2026)
Zitatform
Busetta, Annalisa & Daria Mendola (2026): Time and resilience. Evidence from a new survey of refugees and asylum seekers in Italy. In: Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica, Jg. 80, H. 1, S. 191-202. DOI:10.71014/sieds.v80i1.555
Abstract
"Migration studies agree that resilience is a crucial dimension for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; however, how resilience differs across age groups and its association with the integration process remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the role of time on resilience. Particularly, whether resilience differs by age and whether it is related to the length of time spent in the host country. Our analysis benefits from the ItRAS (Italian Refugees and Asylum Seekers Survey), the first nationally representative survey of asylum seekers and beneficiaries of refugee status or other forms of international protection. The survey was conducted in 2024 and included individuals who had resided in Italy for at least six months but not before 2011. We explored the interplay of time and resilience, controlling for the main individual socio-demographic characteristics. The analysis was grounded in an ordinal logit regression to explain variations in the intensity of refugees’ adapting capacity (ego-resilience). Among older individuals, the probability of being highly resilient is higher than among the younger. On the contrary, there is no significant evidence of the association between the length of stay in Italy and resilience. By providing insights into the role of time in studies on resilience, this paper debunks the view of older people as more vulnerable and in need of support per se, drawing our attention to the need for an accurate vulnerability assessment that does not proceed by stereotyped macro-category." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Weiterführende Informationen
Data product DOI: 10.5684/soep.iab-bamf-soep-mig.2019 -
Literaturhinweis
Can I Take It with Me? Skills Transferability and Human Capital Investments Among Refugees (2026)
Zitatform
Ehab, Maye, Kseniia Gatskova & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): Can I Take It with Me? Skills Transferability and Human Capital Investments Among Refugees. In: O. Winkler & M. Olczyk (Eds.) (2026): Educational Integration of Refugees and Newly Arrived Immigrants, S. 121-141, 2026-02-02. DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-25346-0_6
Abstract
"This chapter explores the factors IAB that shape the intentions of Ukrainian refugees to invest in post-migration human capital in Germany. Guided by theory of post-migration human capital investments (IHCI) and using a vignette experiment among Ukrainian refugees within the online high frequency survey of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey we examine how human capital transferability, opportunity costs, and settlement intentions affect people’s willingness to invest in vocational training. Our findings suggest that refugees’ post-migration educational intentions generally align with the IHCI model: refugees weigh costs and expected benefits, taking into account the usability of qualifications over time. Alongside transferability of skills from abroad to Germany, the potential transferability of acquired skills in Germany to abroad play a significant role in people’s decisions, especially if refugees intend to stay in the host country only temporarily." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
'I needed this journey': home visits in wartime as transformative events (2026)
Zitatform
Falkenhain, Mariella (2026): 'I needed this journey': home visits in wartime as transformative events. In: Journal of Refugee Studies, Jg. 39, H. 2, S. 325-339., 2025-12-23. DOI:10.1093/jrs/feaf088
Abstract
"This article examines how Ukrainian refugees experience wartime home visits. Relying on in-depth, repeated interviews with Ukrainian refugees in Germany, the article explores a state of in-betweenness that characterizes these individuals’ lives shortly after arrival, particularly by disrupting their sense of belonging and capacity to imagine the future. During short-term home visits to Ukraine, the visitors acquire a feel for life in war that is associated with complex feelings of alienation, disillusionment, and futurelessness. This experience helps individuals overcome subjective states of the in-between and move forward in life, irrespective of the persistent structural limbo related to temporary protection. Considering migrant home visits as transformative events advances recent debates about liminality and protracted displacement. It also has important implications for longer-term processes of social inclusion." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Oxford University Press) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Limits of Activation? Street-Level Responses to the 2015 Refugee Challenge in German Job Centers (2026)
Zitatform
Falkenhain, Mariella & Andreas Hirseland (2026): Limits of Activation? Street-Level Responses to the 2015 Refugee Challenge in German Job Centers. In: Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, Jg. 24, H. 3, S. 581-595., 2024-01-28. DOI:10.1080/15562948.2024.2313210
Abstract
"Frontline workers in host-country state organizations influence refugees’ life chances and social integration. Yet little is known about how the local organizational environment shapes the action orientations of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs). This article explores how German job centers and placement officers have responded to the unprecedented increase in refugee clients following the winter of 2015/16. Our findings suggest that new organizational structures motivate SLBs to interpret rules flexibly and do what works well. This pattern of authorized rule bending is relevant for overcoming the limits of activation and for the inclusion/exclusion of refugees as mediated by state bureaucracy." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Taylor & Francis) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Der Job-Turbo für Geflüchtete aus Sicht von Vermittlungsfachkräften: eine kritische Bilanz (2026)
Zitatform
Falkenhain, Mariella & Sarah Bernhard (2026): Der Job-Turbo für Geflüchtete aus Sicht von Vermittlungsfachkräften: eine kritische Bilanz. In: Wirtschaftsdienst, Jg. 106, H. 4, S. 271-277., 2026-02-20. DOI:10.2478/wd-2026-0068
Abstract
"Mit dem Job-Turbo sollen Geflüchtete schnell und nachhaltig in Arbeit gebracht werden. Dieses Ziel erscheint ambitioniert angesichts zahlreicher struktureller Hürden. Dieser Beitrag untersucht, wie Vermittlungsfachkräfte in deutschen Jobcentern den Job-Turbo und seine operativen Vorgaben sowie die Rahmenbedingungen für die Vermittlung von Geflüchteten einschätzen. Es zeigt sich ein deutliches Bild: Fachkräfte lehnen den Job-Turbo mehrheitlich ab, bewerten die Ziele für die gesamte Zielgruppe als schwer erreichbar und enge Vorgaben zur Häufigkeit von Beratungsgesprächen als wenig förderlich. Vermittlungsfachkräfte in spezialisierten Sonderteams sehen die Reform leicht positiver. Die Ergebnisse können für Probleme auf der Arbeitsebene der Arbeitsverwaltung sensibilisieren und sind relevant für die Nachhaltigkeit der Reform." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Cash Transfers and Employment among Syrian Refugees: Evidence from Rule-Based Eligibility in Türkiye (2026)
Fatima, Freeha; Ozen, Efsan; Raju, Dhushyanth;Zitatform
Fatima, Freeha, Efsan Ozen & Dhushyanth Raju (2026): Cash Transfers and Employment among Syrian Refugees: Evidence from Rule-Based Eligibility in Türkiye. (IZA discussion paper / IZA Network @ LISER 18670), Bonn: IZA Network @ LISER, 41 S.
Abstract
"We examine whether eligibility for a large-scale humanitarian cash transfer program affects employment outcomes among displaced populations. Exploiting deterministic demographic thresholds governing eligibility for the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) in Türkiye, a nationwide unconditional cash transfer program established primarily to support Syrian refugees, we implement a local-randomization regression discontinuity design to estimate causal effects at the program’s administrative eligibility frontier. We find no statistically significant discontinuities in employment probabilities for either women or men across multiple employment outcomes, including overall employment, wage employment, full-time employment, and nonfarm employment. Estimated effects are small, economically modest, and stable across specifications. Overall, the findings provide little evidence that sustained unconditional cash transfers under the ESSN generated economically meaningful labor supply disincentives at the eligibility margin." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Migration and social mobility: a qualitative longitudinal study (2026)
Zitatform
Fejes, Andreas & Magnus Dahlstedt (2026): Migration and social mobility: a qualitative longitudinal study. In: Journal of education and work, Jg. 39, H. 3, S. 253-268. DOI:10.1080/13639080.2026.2707456
Abstract
"This article examines how adult migrants in Sweden navigate the complex and shifting conditions surrounding labour-market integration over time. Drawing on a qualitative longitudinal study involving 55 participants interviewed twice between 2017–2021, the analysis explores social mobility as a dynamic, relational and non-linear process shaped by structural constraints and personal aspirations. Four interrelated themes emerge: the profound impact of legal status and protracted asylum procedures on migrants’ capacity to plan for the future; the widespread mis-recognition of foreign qualifications, often resulting in downward mobility or extended requalification pathways; experiences of labour-market exploitation, particularly among those whose residence permits depend on employment; and the decisive role of social networks in enabling language learning, accessing opportunities and fostering a sense of belonging. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how policy frameworks, institutional practices and relational resources interact to facilitate or constrain migrants’ social mobility trajectories in contemporary Sweden." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Schutzsuchende auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Sachsen-Anhalt (2026)
Zitatform
Fuchs, Michaela, Georg Sieglen & Birgit Fritzsche (2026): Schutzsuchende auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Sachsen-Anhalt. (IAB-Regional. Berichte und Analysen aus dem Regionalen Forschungsnetz. IAB Sachsen-Anhalt-Thüringen 04/2026), Nürnberg, 46 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.RESAT.2604
Abstract
"Die Zuwanderung von Schutzsuchenden – also Menschen, die in Deutschland einen Antrag auf Schutz aus völkerrechtlichen, humanitären oder politischen Gründen gestellt haben – ist seit 2015 stark gestiegen. Ihre Integration in den Arbeitsmarkt ist von zentralem Interesse, denn die Ausübung einer bezahlten Tätigkeit ermöglicht ihnen wirtschaftliche Unabhängigkeit und soziale Teilhabe. Die Studie gibt daher einen Überblick über die Situation von Schutzsuchenden auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Sachsen-Anhalt. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf dem Erreichen einer Beschäftigung als zentralem Indikator für wirtschaftliche Integration und soziale Teilhabe. Weiterhin wird die Situation der Frauen gesondert betrachtet. Schutzsuchende stellen in Sachsen-Anhalt Ende 2024 mit 79.270 Personen rund 4 Prozent der Gesamtbevölkerung. Dabei sind Männer und Personen im erwerbsfähigen Alter in der Mehrheit. Obwohl die Beschäftigung von Schutzsuchenden in den letzten Jahren stark gestiegen ist, machen sie mit 13.330 Personen nur 2 Prozent aller sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten aus. Viele von ihnen haben keinen Berufsabschluss, was mit einem hohen Anteil an Tätigkeiten auf Helferniveau einhergeht. Sie sind zudem in einem sehr engen Berufs- und Branchenspektrum tätig mit Schwerpunkten auf Verkehr und Logistik sowie Lebensmittel und Gastgewerbe, die teils zu den Engpassberufen und systemrelevanten Berufen zählen. In geringfügiger Beschäftigung und in Berufsausbildung sind wesentlich weniger Schutzsuchende gemeldet. Analysen zum individuellen Übergang in den Arbeitsmarkt betonen, dass es Zeit braucht, bis die Schutzsuchenden in Beschäftigung gelangen. Drei Jahre nach dem erfassten Datum der Einreise haben 28 Prozent der hier betrachteten Kohorte das erste Mal eine sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung aufgenommen, nach sechs Jahren waren es 54 Prozent. Dabei existieren große geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede, denn nach sechs Jahren zeigte sich für 68 Prozent der Männer und für 22 Prozent der Frauen ein erstmaliger Übergang in Beschäftigung. Betrachtet man die Nachhaltigkeit der ersten Beschäftigung und damit eine Beschäftigung, die über mindestens sechs Monate lang besteht, verringern sich die Übergänge. Es bedarf damit weiterer Anstrengungen, um die Schutzsuchenden auf dem Weg in den Arbeitsmarkt zu begleiten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Settlement, Return, or Onward Migration? An Intersectional Perspective on Migration Decisions (2026)
Zitatform
Gallegos Torres, Katia, Agnieszka Kanas & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): Settlement, Return, or Onward Migration? An Intersectional Perspective on Migration Decisions. (SocArXiv papers), 36 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/a38zj_v1
Abstract
"Out-migration is a central yet understudied dimension of migration processes, with important implications for labor supply, integration trajectories, and population composition. This paper examines how out-migration intentions vary across migrant groups and how economic ties, socio-cultural embeddedness, and transnational ties are associated with return and onward migration. Using recent data on immigrants in Germany, the analysis shows that out-migration intentions are shaped by multiple mechanisms rather than a single dominant factor. Socio-cultural embeddedness is the strongest correlate of lower mobility, whereas economic resources and transnational ties have more heterogeneous associations. Return and onward migration are linked to distinct configurations of attachments, and these patterns vary systematically by gender and migration motive. Men are more likely to report onward migration, and economic migrants exhibit higher overall mobility than family migrants and refugees. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between forms of mobility and moving beyond purely economic explanations to better understand migrant retention and mobility dynamics." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Overlooked Potential? Childcare Services and Ukrainian Refugee Mothers in Germany (2026)
Zitatform
Gambaro, Ludovica, Sophia Schmitz, Mathias Huebener & C. Katharina Spieß (2026): Overlooked Potential? Childcare Services and Ukrainian Refugee Mothers in Germany. In: Demography, Jg. 63, H. 3, S. 979-1005. DOI:10.1215/00703370-12665544
Abstract
"This article examines whether refugee mothers in high-income countries can benefit from universal childcare services. Using a large, representative survey of Ukrainian refugees in Germany linked with administrative area-level information, we estimate the effects of childcare services on mothers’ participation in language and integration courses, employment, language skills, social contact with Germans, feeling welcome, and subjective well-being. To address potential biases from omitted variables and endogeneity, we complement ordinary least-squares estimations with a formal assessment of unobserved factors and an instrumental variable approach, using local childcare coverage rates as the instrument. Results indicate that mothers increase their participation in integration and language classes as well as labor market engagement when their child attends childcare services. Additionally, childcare attendance is associated with mothers’ improved German skills and more frequent contact with German residents, confirming that childcare centers can foster bridging ties. We find no effect on maternal well-being. Although our selected outcomes cannot capture the full range of Ukrainian refugee mothers’ experiences in Germany, the outcomes extend beyond traditional labor market indicators, underscoring the broader integrative function of childcare services." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The effect of health on refugees' labor market integration: Evidence from a natural experiment in Germany (2026)
Zitatform
Goßner, Laura, Philipp Jaschke & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): The effect of health on refugees' labor market integration: Evidence from a natural experiment in Germany. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 21, H. 4, 2026-04-06. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0346936
Abstract
"This paper analyzes the role of health for refugees’ integration into host countries’ labor markets. We exploit the quasi-random dispersal policies of refugees across regions in Germany to analyze the causal effect of health on employment. Based on regional and temporal heterogeneity in a policy adoption that provided earlier access to healthcare services through electronic health cards (eHCs), combined with the regional availability of healthcare services and pre-migration health status, we construct instrumental variables (IVs) providing plausibly exogenous variation in refugees’ post-arrival health status. Our results reveal that favorable physical health (PCS) improves refugees’ employment probability. Favorable mental health (MCS) increases only females’ employment rates, although this effect must be scrutinized due to weak instruments. Regarding potential mechanisms, we provide evidence that better health increases language course participation and German language proficiency for female refugees." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Fixed-term employment and subjective well-being: A comparison of natives, migrants and refugees (2026)
Zitatform
Goßner, Laura & Maye Ehab (2026): Fixed-term employment and subjective well-being: A comparison of natives, migrants and refugees. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 40, H. 3, S. 396-420., 2025-10-17. DOI:10.1177/09500170251393618
Abstract
"This article examines the impact of fixed-term employment on subjective well-being among natives, migrants and refugees in Germany and the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Utilizing longitudinal data from 2016 to 2021, we employ fixed-effects panel models and mediation analyses. We find that refugees experience stronger negative effects of fixed-term employment on their well-being than natives and migrants, especially shortly after their arrival. For migrants and natives, subjective job insecurity significantly mediates these effects, while it is less relevant for refugees. Our results indicate that it is essential to acknowledge the heterogeneous effects for vulnerable groups when studying the impact of fixed-term employment. During their integration process, refugees encounter complex labour market challenges which can pose threats to their subjective well-being. Therefore, we suggest engaging more in debates about non-standard forms of employment and taking aspects of the quality of employment into account when designing integration measures for this group." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Sage) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Transnational Perspectives on Migration and Integration – TRANSMIT Surveys of Syrian Nationals and Their Neighbors in Lebanon and Turkey (2019–2023) (2026)
Gundacker, Lidwina ; Rischke, Ramona ; Ruhnke, Simon ; Hertner, Laura ; Talebi, Nader ; Kühnert, Nora ; Brücker, Herbert ; Trocka, Caroline ;Zitatform
Gundacker, Lidwina, Laura Hertner, Nora Kühnert, Ramona Rischke, Simon Ruhnke, Nader Talebi, Caroline Trocka & Herbert Brücker (2026): Transnational Perspectives on Migration and Integration – TRANSMIT Surveys of Syrian Nationals and Their Neighbors in Lebanon and Turkey (2019–2023). In: Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik, Jg. 246, H. 1-2, S. 181-192., 2024-12-18. DOI:10.1515/jbnst-2024-0091
Abstract
"Migration scholars commonly study international migration and socio-economic integration separately, typically focusing on a single receiving country in the Global North. The TRANSMIT project adopts a transnational perspective, studying key migration routes to Europe via large-scale surveys among Syrians and their host communities in two major countries of mixed-migration contexts, namely Lebanon and Turkey. Both countries, in addition to their own history of emigration, host large refugee populations. The surveys cover both migration biographies and aspects of the socioeconomic participation of Syrian nationals. Surveying the host populations in equal terms allows researchers to examine local contexts and group differences." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © De Gruyter Brill) ((en))
Weiterführende Informationen
Data Manual -
Literaturhinweis
Refugee journeys and the erosion of pre-migration human capital: a sequence-analysis approach to post-migration trajectories (2026)
Zitatform
Gundacker, Lidwina (2026): Refugee journeys and the erosion of pre-migration human capital: a sequence-analysis approach to post-migration trajectories. In: Advances in life course research, Jg. 68, 2026-04-10. DOI:10.1016/j.alcr.2026.100741
Abstract
"More than a decade ago, refugee immigration prominently returned to Europe’s political agendas, sparking interest in the factors shaping refugees’ economic and societal participation. Adopting a life course perspective, this study addresses the conflicting views in sociology of migration on the importance of pre-migration capital for refugees’ post-migration trajectories. While some argue that human capital is accumulated over the life course and retains its value after migration, others describe forced migration as a disruptive event that may severely diminish these resources. Drawing on rich survey and administrative employment data, this article employs sequence analysis combined with cluster analysis to identify typical integration trajectories of refugee women and men in Germany. In multivariate analyses, I demonstrate that pre-migration human capital is associated with a higher likelihood to enter education and employment, underscoring the enduring relevance of resources acquired prior to migration. Straining journeys can, however, reduce available resources after arrival: for individuals reporting long and traumatizing journeys, human capital effects partly disappear. The results highlight the important role of refugee migration experiences that are often neglected in both scholarly and political discourses on integration outcomes as well as migration and integration policies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Der Job-Turbo hat die Arbeitsmarktintegration von Geflüchteten deutlich beschleunigt (2026)
Zitatform
Hainmueller, Jens, Moritz Marbach, Dominik Hangartner, Niklas Harder & Ehsan Vallizadeh (2026): Der Job-Turbo hat die Arbeitsmarktintegration von Geflüchteten deutlich beschleunigt. In: IAB-Forum H. 21.09.2026. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20260921.01
Abstract
"Der Job-Turbo sollte Geflüchtete nach Abschluss der Integrationskurse schneller in Arbeit bringen. Eine Evaluation auf Basis von Statistikdaten der Bundesagentur für Arbeit zeigt nun: Die intensivere Betreuung durch die Jobcenter erhöhte die Übergänge in Beschäftigung deutlich. Besonders stark profitierten ukrainische Geflüchtete. Hinweise darauf, dass die stärkere Förderung zulasten anderer Arbeitsloser ging, finden sich nicht." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Unequal returns: gendered and origin-based disparities in initial refugee employment trajectories in Germany (2026)
Zitatform
Hartmann, Jörg & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): Unequal returns: gendered and origin-based disparities in initial refugee employment trajectories in Germany. In: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, S. 1-26. DOI:10.1080/1369183X.2026.2669616
Abstract
"This article examines origin- and gender-based disparities in labour-market integration of refugees in Germany, comparing Ukrainian refugees with refugees from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Using longitudinal data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey and the IAB-BiB/FReDA-BAMF-SOEP Ukrainian Refugee Survey, we trace labour-force participation (LFP) and employment rates during the first three years after arrival. Our findings confirm the expected origin and gender gaps. Ukrainians outperform MENA refugees, and men outperform women in both LFP and employment rates. However, decomposition analyses reveal that these gaps are driven less by differences in pre-migration human capital, post-migration investments, caregiving responsibilities, or legal conditions as endowments. Instead, disparities in LFP are largely explained by differential returns to similar characteristics, particularly duration of stay and, for women, returns to language skills and not having children. Once selection into the labour force is accounted for, most employment gaps are reversed or disappear, indicating that early inequalities primarily arise from differential entry into LFP rather than unequal employment chances among participants. Overall, the findings highlight labour-force selection and unequal returns – rather than resource deficits – as central mechanisms shaping early refugee labour-market integration." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Taylor&Francis) ((en))
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