Migration und Integration
Bei dem Thema Einwanderung nach Deutschland gilt es auch die Bedingungen einer gelingenden Integration von Zugewanderten in Gesellschaft, Bildung und Arbeit zu untersuchen. Die Arbeitsmarktforschung beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, wie die Integration in das Bildungs- und Ausbildungssystem, der Zugang zum Arbeitsmarkt sowie die Bedingungen der sozialen Teilhabe und kulturellen Integration verbessert werden können.
Aktuelle Studien zeigen zudem, dass Deutschland angesichts seiner demographischen Herausforderungen dringend auf Zuwanderung angewiesen ist. Inwiefern kann Zuwanderung der Schrumpfung und Alterung des Erwerbspersonenpotenzials entgegenwirken? Welche Entwicklungen in der nationalen und europäischen Einwanderungspolitik begünstigen die Einwanderung von Erwerbspersonen und Fachkräften? Die hier zusammengestellte Literatur bietet einen aktuellen und umfassenden Überblick über den Themenkomplex Migration und Integration.
Literatur zum Thema Flucht und Asyl finden Sie in unserer IAB-Infoplattform Fluchtmigrantinnen und -migranten - Bildung und Arbeitsmarkt.
Zurück zur Übersicht- Forschung und Ergebnisse aus dem IAB
- Einwanderungspolitik
- Auswirkungen von Migration
- Wanderungsmotivation und Rückwanderung
- Arbeitslosigkeit und Arbeitsmarktpolitik
- Qualifikation, Bildung und Beschäftigung
- Integration und soziale Teilhabe
- internationale Aspekte
- Personengruppen
-
Literaturhinweis
Is Germany Missing Out or Catching Up? Gender Inequality and the German Skilled Immigration Act (2026)
Zitatform
Alloatti, Magali & Tanja Fendel (2026): Is Germany Missing Out or Catching Up? Gender Inequality and the German Skilled Immigration Act. In: Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, S. 1-17. DOI:10.1080/15562948.2025.2606198
Abstract
"Germany’s Skilled Worker Immigration Act addresses labor shortages by targeting non-EU migrants. The literature emphasizes that such policies often overlook gender-specific challenges, reinforcing inequalities. Using the German Socio-Economic Panel (2013–2022), we reveal significant disadvantages for non-EU migrant women. We find that deskilling and the sexual division of paid and unpaid working time explain gender disparities in professional careers. Women migrating for work show lower disadvantages than other migrant women; however, they are predominantly young and without children. We advocate for gender-sensitive reforms to accompany migration laws, ensuring equitable labor market access for migrant women in Germany and especially those with children." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Taylor & Francis) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
“Maybe I Say Something, I Understand a Bit”: On the (In)Accessibility of Translation (2026)
Zitatform
Bella, Natalie (2026): “Maybe I Say Something, I Understand a Bit”: On the (In)Accessibility of Translation. In: Social Inclusion, Jg. 14, S. 1-19., 2025-11-10. DOI:10.17645/si.10962
Abstract
"Working with interpreters is common in qualitative social research. It can even be necessary when researchers address the perspective of people with whom they do not share a lingua franca. Interpreters are then brought into the research endeavor to enable a communication setting that would otherwise be impossible. Following the theme of enabling communication, the dominant perspective on interpreted interviews suggests that there is only one person involved in the interaction - the Interpreter - who can understand and speak both languages. This perspective falls short as it relies on a monolithic understanding of refugees as perpetually removed from (the linguistic requirements of) their new surroundings. However, when people have visited language courses or have otherwise been exposed to the language of their new contexts, they are gaining ground as agents of translation. Thus, the interactional dynamic of the interpreted interview changes drastically as the interviewee can participate more in how they and their stories are interpreted. Faced with the varying language proficiencies of the interviewees, the interpreter adapts their strategies of interpreting. Drawing from narrative interviews with refugees from Syria, collected at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), this article explores the question of how the interviewees’ language proficiency influences the interpreted interview, as it is rooted in situated performativity. Focusing on the interactions between all three participants, three empirical constellations highlight the relevance of acknowledging the performative density of translating and interpreting collaboratively." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Cogitatio Press) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
OECD-Migrationsausblick 2025: Sag mir, wo du arbeitest, und ich sage dir, wie integriert du bist (2026)
Zitatform
Bellmann, Lutz & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): OECD-Migrationsausblick 2025: Sag mir, wo du arbeitest, und ich sage dir, wie integriert du bist. In: IAB-Forum H. 02.02.2026. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20260202.02
Abstract
"Eingewanderte sind zu Beginn ihrer beruflichen Laufbahn im Zielland überdurchschnittlich häufig in Betrieben und Branchen mit niedrigen Durchschnittslöhnen beschäftigt. Allerdings bestehen von Land zu Land erhebliche Unterschiede. Inwieweit werden diese Einkommensnachteile im Zeitablauf ausgeglichen? Und welche Rolle spielen die Betriebe selbst für die Einkommensentwicklung von Eingewanderten? Um diese Fragen ging es beim „OECD-Migrationsausblick 2025“." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
-
Literaturhinweis
Trade liberalisation and firm-level employment a case study of the EU eastern enlargement (2026)
Zitatform
Brändle, Tobias & René Kalweit (2026): Trade liberalisation and firm-level employment a case study of the EU eastern enlargement. In: Empirica, Jg. 53, H. 1, S. 201-230. DOI:10.1007/s10663-025-09670-2
Abstract
"This paper analyses employment effects of the Eastern Enlargement of the European Union (EU) in German firms. The literature has so far identified such effects using difference-in-differences estimators treating the EU Eastern Enlargement as a single event or using border regions as treatment intensity indicators. This paper re-evaluates the existing results using more recent and detailed data on actual tariff reductions. We recall that the EU Eastern Enlargement is a process of integration and continuous trade liberalization rather than a single event. We exploit that process and use actual variations in tariffs to identify causal effects of trade liberalisation on employment in German firms affected by these tariff cuts. There are negligible effects of tariff reductions from the EU Eastern Enlargement on overall employment in German firms. We find, a positive correlation between employment and tariff reductions, which is, however not causal, and potentially due to selection, as we also find higher employment growth in exporting firms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Zuwanderungsmonitor Januar (2026)
Zitatform
Brücker, Herbert, Andreas Hauptmann & Sekou Keita (2026): Zuwanderungsmonitor Januar. (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung. Aktuelle Daten und Indikatoren), Nürnberg, 8 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.ZM.2601
Abstract
"In aller Kürze: - Die ausländische Bevölkerung in Deutschland ist nach Angaben des Ausländerzentralregisters im Dezember 2025 gegenüber dem Vormonat um rund 8.000 Personen gesunken. - Die Beschäftigungsquote der ausländischen Bevölkerung betrug im November 2025 57,7 Prozent und ist damit im Vergleich zum Vorjahresmonat um 1,9 Prozentpunkte gestiegen. - Die absolute Zahl der Arbeitslosen mit einer ausländischen Staatsangehörigkeit hat im Januar 2026 gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat um rund 5.000 Personen zugenommen. Dies entspricht einem Anstieg von 0,5 Prozent. - Die Arbeitslosenquote der ausländischen Bevölkerung lag im November 2025 bei 14,3 Prozent und ist im Vergleich zum Vorjahresmonat um 0,4 Prozentpunkte gesunken. - Die SGB-II-Hilfequote der ausländischen Bevölkerung lag im Oktober 2025 bei 19,3 Prozent und ist gegenüber dem Vorjahresmonat um 1,3 Prozentpunkte gesunken. - Unter den ausländischen Staatsangehörigen belief sich die Beschäftigungsquote von Frauen im Juli 2025 auf 51,0 Prozent und von Männern auf 62,8 Prozent. Die Beschäftigungsquote von Frauen mit ausländischer Staatsangehörigkeit ist damit im Vergleich zum Vorjahresmonat um 1,9 Prozentpunkte gestiegen, die von Männern um 2,0 Prozentpunkte." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)
Weiterführende Informationen
Sämtliche Ausgaben des Zuwanderungsmonitors im Grafik- und Datenportal des IAB -
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, S. 1-15. 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))
-
Literaturhinweis
Migrants, Refugees and Employer Discrimination (2026)
Zitatform
Guo, Liwen & Massimiliano Tani (2026): Migrants, Refugees and Employer Discrimination. In: BJIR, Jg. 64, H. 1, S. 101-113. DOI:10.1111/bjir.70016
Abstract
"We investigate the labour market integration of humanitarian and non-humanitarian migrants in Australia using longitudinal data from the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) and the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) surveys. In particular, we analyse the employment probabilities and income levels of immigrants and humanitarian immigrants who arrived at a similar time through the Kitagawa–Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition. Disparities in employment outcomes can be traced back to differences in human capital, particularly education and English proficiency. However, the analysis reveals that the main factor underpinning differences in labour market outcomes is the discrimination experienced by humanitarian migrants, which persists over the 5-year window covered by the data. The results support the conclusion that the forces of labour demand and supply are unlikely to remove the discrimination disadvantaging humanitarian migrants without targeted interventions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
How Do Immigration Policies Affect Voter Support for Low-Skilled Immigrants? Evidence from a Survey Experiment (2026)
Zitatform
Hopkins, Vincent, Andrea Lawlor & Mireille Paquet (2026): How Do Immigration Policies Affect Voter Support for Low-Skilled Immigrants? Evidence from a Survey Experiment. In: International migration review, Jg. 60, H. 1, S. 469-494. DOI:10.1177/01979183241296032
Abstract
"Countries depend on both high- and low-skilled immigration to meet economic needs. But most voters prefer high-skilled immigrants, despite the fact that multiple economic sectors structurally depend on low-skilled immigrants. In this paper, we examine voter preferences toward low-skilled immigrants as one barrier to effective immigration policy, even in political regimes where immigration is the consequence of highly coordinated or “planned” policies. Specifically, we consider whether government communication around the benefits of low-skilled immigration can increase favorability of such policies. We are particularly interested in the ways in which government communicates immigration messages and whether the scope or concentration of the proposed benefits will move individual preferences. In an online survey experiment, we present Canadians ( N=2,023) with a policy brief that manipulates immigrant skill level (high vs. low), economic outcomes of migration (positive vs. mixed), and the geographic scope of benefits (concentrated vs. sociotropic). Employing two measures of policy support, we find some evidence that positive framing can increase overall support for low-skill migrants. We also find that manipulating framing around high-skilled workers has little effect on support for low-skill workers, even when that framing presents countervailing evidence as to the benefit of high-skilled labor. In sum, our findings suggest that elite level communication around the benefits of low-skill labor may have the ability to disrupt longstanding antipathy for low-skilled labor, even in regimes with longstanding support for high-skilled labor." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Determinants of refugees’ generalised and institutional trust: evidence from Germany (2026)
Zitatform
Kanas, Agnieszka, Frank van Tubergen & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): Determinants of refugees’ generalised and institutional trust: evidence from Germany. In: Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Jg. 52, H. 1, S. 85-104., 2025-05-28. DOI:10.1080/1369183x.2025.2514800
Abstract
"This paper examines the factors shaping refugees’ institutionalized and generalized trust, focusing on three key influences: (1) pre-arrival migration effects, such as experiences of trauma; (2) asylum procedure effects, including the length and outcome of the process and perceptions of fairness; and (3) post-procedure effects, particularly the context of reception. Using data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP survey of refugees in Germany, we find that the conditions of the asylum process and the reception context are critical determinants of refugees’ trust. Specifically, while the length of the asylum process and living in shared accommodations negatively affect institutional trust, these impacts are largely mediated by other refugee-specific experiences, such as perceptions of procedural and interactional justice. Receiving a positive asylum decision directly enhances refugees ’ trust in German institutions and other people, whereas being trapped in existential limbo severely erodes trust levels. Additionally, refugees subject to residency restrictions exhibit lower institutional and generalized trust levels than those without such limitations. These findings highlight the critical role of short and fair asylum procedures and inclusive reception policies in fostering trust among refugees, with significant implications for improving integration outcomes and social cohesion." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Labor Policies and Immigrant Employment (2026)
Zitatform
Kiviholma, Sanni & Hannu Karhunen (2026): Labor Policies and Immigrant Employment. In: Journal of Economic Surveys, Jg. 40, H. 1, S. 321-339. DOI:10.1111/joes.70010
Abstract
"This survey describes the recent literature on integration and active labor market policies that strive to enhance the employment of immigrants. We searched several databases, and after screening, 63 studies satisfied our predetermined inclusion criteria. The first criterion is that the studies examine policies in Europe. Second, the search was limited to studies published between 2005 and 2024. Third, our primary outcome of interest is employment. Other outcome variables are income, labor market participation, and duration of unemployment. We focus on studies that offer experimental or quasi-experimental evidence on the effects of policies on the employment of immigrants. We divide the policy measures into the following five groups: integration programs, language training, benefits, childcare, and residency policies. Our main finding is that well-executed integration measures can improve the labor market attachment of immigrants, speed up the process of entering employment, and improve the quality of attained jobs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Migration motivation and ethnic identity of migrant couples: tied versus lead movers (2026)
Lousada de Freitas Monteiro, Maria Teresa;Zitatform
Lousada de Freitas Monteiro, Maria Teresa (2026): Migration motivation and ethnic identity of migrant couples: tied versus lead movers. In: Review of Economics of the Household, Jg. 24, H. 1, S. 161-197. DOI:10.1007/s11150-024-09708-7
Abstract
"This study examines how being a tied or lead mover relates to the ethnic identity of migrant spouses. Tied and lead movers differ in their migration motivations, face different constraints, and opportunities (e.g., social network through work). This is likely to be reflected in different investment strategies and adjustment patterns in the host country. To study the adjustment of tied and lead movers, I rely on the IAB-SOEP Migration Sample, which asks migrant spouses who was the main driver of the migration decision and measures several socio-economic outcomes in Germany. Using the Constant et al. (2009) framework to measure ethnic identity, the results provide descriptive evidence that tied movers in Germany are more likely to be separated and less likely to be integrated and assimilated when compared to lead or equal movers. These findings suggest that for tied movers, the benefits of investing in the host country’s culture do not outweigh the costs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Evidence for the welfare magnet hypothesis? A global examination using exponential random graph models (2026)
Müller, Tim S.;Zitatform
Müller, Tim S. (2026): Evidence for the welfare magnet hypothesis? A global examination using exponential random graph models. In: Social forces, Jg. 104, H. 3, S. 850-873. DOI:10.1093/sf/soaf048
Abstract
"The welfare magnet hypothesis states that welfare generosity in destination countries is a migration pull factor. However, supporting evidence is mixed. Previous research has focused on explanatory factors in destination countries rather than in origin countries, examined migration from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development country perspectives rather than from a global perspective, and typically ignored that migration flows are not independent, thus overestimating welfare spending effects. We used exponential random graph models to examine migration flows between 160 countries and treated welfare spending in origin and destination countries as the main explanatory variable. Our findings show that social spending attraction effects largely disappear after controlling for various explanatory variables (gross domestic product, population size, geographic distance, democracy levels, and common spoken language). The migration preferences of low- and high-income groups do not mediate social spending attraction effects. Furthermore, flows between countries with similar spending levels are greater than flows between very low- and very high-spending countries, indicating migrant status maintenance. In conclusion, we find insufficient evidence that welfare spending strongly impacts migration." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Short‐Term Visa, Long‐Term Stay? Estimating Inflows of Overstayers in the Schengen Area Using Air Passenger Records and Facebook Mobility Data (2026)
Zitatform
Recchi, Ettore, Luca Bernasconi & Alejandra Rodriguez Sanchez (2026): Short‐Term Visa, Long‐Term Stay? Estimating Inflows of Overstayers in the Schengen Area Using Air Passenger Records and Facebook Mobility Data. In: International Migration, Jg. 64, H. 1. DOI:10.1111/imig.70123
Abstract
"Overstayers—travellers entering a country with a valid visa but staying beyond the initially authorised period—are a blind spot of migration research. Past studies claim that overstaying is indeed the main gateway to irregular migration in Europe, but few estimates exist. This paper explores three new methods to estimate the inflows of overstayers. We concentrate on the Schengen area as destination, given its relevance in global migration flows, and on non-European countries as origins, since for travellers from these countries commercial flights are the most likely transportation mode to Europe. Our methods rely on aggregate information on incoming and departing passengers from all airports in the Schengen Area, and on Facebook users' mobility data. In the first method, we compute ‘net air travel flows’ as the difference between incoming and outgoingpassengers; we then deduce net regular migration (using data from Eurostat and the QuantMig project) from ‘net air travel flows’ to obtain ‘unaccounted net flows’, which we hold to equate approximately to newly incoming overstayers with short-stay visas for 2019. In the second method, building on the first estimate, we employ the logic of gravity models to project estimates for later years. In the third method, we build on the intuitions of the first method but use net migration figures from data on Facebook users' cross-border movements. Substantively, the results of the different methods converge, indicating around 450,000 new overstayers who entered the whole of the Schengen Area in 2019 with short-stay visas. Analyses for the following years obtained with the second and third method match and are in line with changes in travel policies during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021), suggesting a significant reduction in the number of overstayers for those years and an uptick for the years 2022–2023. By uncovering the size and scope of the overstaying population we shed light on a highly contested issue in the public debate and ultimately contribute to raise awareness on the constructed nature of the ‘regular’ versus ‘irregular’ framing of migration." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Who gets to return? Party politics and the selectivity of European emigrant return policies (2026)
Zitatform
Reiß, Lea Giulia (2026): Who gets to return? Party politics and the selectivity of European emigrant return policies. In: Migration Studies, Jg. 14, H. 1. DOI:10.1093/migration/mnaf061
Abstract
"Why do European governments encourage the return of some emigrants but not others? Across the EU, emigrant return policies tend to be highly selective, prioritizing specific emigrants, such as young people, skilled professionals, or entrepreneurs. Drawing on an original dataset of eighty-one national-level emigrant return policies adopted by seventeen EU member states (2004–23), alongside in-depth case studies of Ireland and Portugal, this study investigates how and why governments prioritize certain emigrants for return. The study argues that governments’ ideological outlook, core constituencies, and their strategic positioning in electoral competition play a central role in shaping the design and targeting of policies. The analysis reveals that the party family of the strongest governing party, rather than the government ’s position on the left–right spectrum, determines the primary target group of return policies. Social democrats tend to favour workers, liberals prioritize highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs, while conservatives, Christian democrats, and far-right parties more frequently target families. The case studies further reveal that electoral incentives and timing shape policy targeting, especially in the run-up to national elections. The article contributes to research on migration governance and party politics, highlighting how migration promotion policies, such as emigrant return policies, are not neutral responses to current demographic and economic needs but serve as strategic tools in political competition." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Return Migrant Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda (2026)
Zitatform
Silva, Bárbara G., Nicholas C. Andriese & James G. Combs (2026): Return Migrant Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda. In: Entrepreneurship theory and practice, Jg. 50, H. 1, S. 115-149. DOI:10.1177/10422587251322402
Abstract
"Why do migrants return home and start businesses? Research on this multistage phenomenon—that is, return followed by entrepreneurship—is fragmented, reflecting different scholarly approaches and reasons migrants return and start businesses (or not). We systematically review 80 papers addressing aspects of returnee entrepreneurship and organize findings into a two-stage process model grounded in three levels of analysis—institutional, social, and individual. Our model contributes by providing a parsimonious way to understand returnee entrepreneurship and describe what has been learned. We also contribute a research agenda to help entrepreneurship scholars leverage what is known about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial processes to address critical unanswered questions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
The Labor Market Challenges and Coping Strategies of Highly Skilled Second-Generation Immigrants in Europe: A Scoping Review (2025)
Zitatform
Achouche, Noa (2025): The Labor Market Challenges and Coping Strategies of Highly Skilled Second-Generation Immigrants in Europe: A Scoping Review. In: Societies, Jg. 15, H. 4. DOI:10.3390/soc15040093
Abstract
"This scoping review investigates the labor market challenges and coping strategies of highly skilled second-generation immigrants in Europe who, despite their educational and professional accomplishments, face persistent barriers related to ethnic, cultural, and religious identities. Synthesizing existing literature, the review examines obstacles to the economic integration of highly educated children of immigrants, highlighting both their perceptions of these barriers and the adaptive strategies they employ. A systematic search was conducted across Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost to identify studies published between 2010 and 2024. The selection process followed a structured five-stage framework, including defining research questions, identifying and selecting relevant studies, charting the data, and synthesizing findings. A total of 1192 records were initially identified, with 1022 retained after duplicate removal. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 68 studies were included in the review. Findings indicate that hiring discrimination, occupational segregation, and exclusion from elite professional networks remain key barriers, particularly for those of Muslim background. Despite achieving professional success, many continue to encounter symbolic boundaries that limit career advancement. In response, second-generation professionals adopt various coping strategies, including ethnic niche formation, entrepreneurship, and transnational mobility, to navigate labor market disadvantages. Challenging traditional assimilation narratives, findings reveal that professional success does not guarantee societal acceptance, as ethnic and cultural identities continue to pose significant barriers. The review concludes by identifying key research gaps, advocating for further exploration of organizational practices that perpetuate ethnic inequalities within high-skill professions, and examining transnational mobility as a coping strategy for second-generation elites. Future research should explore how gender and ethnicity intersect to shape career trajectories for second-generation women. Additionally, expanding research beyond the predominant focus on Muslim professionals to include other religious and ethnic groups would provide a more comprehensive understanding of how identity markers influence labor market outcomes. Finally, as demographic shifts reshape European labor markets, comparative studies should assess how different institutional and cultural frameworks influence patterns of inclusion and exclusion for highly skilled second-generation professionals." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Potential and temporariness of EU migration: the experience of Germany (2025)
Zitatform
Adunts, Davit & Ehsan Vallizadeh (2025): Potential and temporariness of EU migration: the experience of Germany. In: M. Akgüç & W. Zwysen (Hrsg.) (2025): Moving under the radar. Ongoing challenges for short-term intra-EU mobility, S. 111-123.
Abstract
"This chapter studies the selection and sorting of EU migrants to and migration decisions within Germany in two steps. First, it investigates, with the aid of Gallup World Poll (GWP) data, the composition and characteristics of potential migrants from EU countries to Germany. Second, it uses the household survey, the IAB-SOEP Migration Sample to analyse the determinants of the migration decisions of those individuals who have already migrated to Germany. Empirical analysis of the driving factors behind migration selection reveals several interesting insights. First, migration selection among individuals who wish to migrate to Germany is driven by common factors such as economic prospects and sociodemographic features. There is a negative and significant relationship between the migration intentions of potential migrants, from both EU and non-EU countries, with regard to labour market conditions as well as perceptions of future economic conditions and living standards in the home country. Second, migration propensity to Germany is significantly lower among potential female migrants. Third, there is regional heterogeneity regarding migration selection. Potential migrants from EU countries to Germany are negatively selected in terms of educational attainment while potential migrants from non-EU countries are positively selected compared to the population in the home country. This latter finding confirms the role of migration policy in influencing migrant selection, especially for third country nationals. However, it is important to note that average education levels differ dramatically between individuals from EU and non-EU origin countries, and that potential migrants from EU countries are, on average, better educated compared to potential migrants from non-EU countries even though the latter group is more positively selected in education. The chapter also examines the sorting pattern of potential migrants in terms of their educational attainment and relative income across the top EU destination countries. Germany is at least as attractive to tertiary-educated potential migrants from non-EU states as other top EU destinations. The major exception is Scandinavian countries, which are significantly more attractive to this group compared to Germany. For potential migrants from other EU countries, Germany is, on average, less attractive to migrants with tertiary education, especially those from EU8 countries. For western European Member States countries, only the United Kingdom (UK) – which is no longer an EU Member State since 2020 – is significantly more attractive to tertiary[1]educated potential migrants than Germany. Finally, micro analysis of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and the temporariness of migration provides another set of insights. There is a negative and significant relationship between family structure and temporary migration decisions among EU migrants in Germany. Specifically, EU nationals with children aged 16 or younger are more likely to stay permanently in Germany compared to those without children. Temporary migration decisions are also negatively linked to duration of stay in Germany. This finding is consistent with the prediction that such decisions happen within the first few years after arrival (Dustmann and Görlach 2016). The temporariness of migration is also related to educational attainment and job skill requirements. For example, high-skilled migrants are about six percentage points more likely to stay temporarily in Germany compared to low-skilled ones. These findings confirm the hypothesis that the temporariness of migration varies along the educational distribution and thus may lead to a selection effect of migration (Dustmann and Görlach 2016)." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Beteiligte aus dem IAB
Adunts, Davit;Weiterführende Informationen
Kostenfreier Volltext des Sammelwerks -
Literaturhinweis
Wage Inequality Among Immigrants (2025)
Zitatform
Akarsu, Mahmut Zeki & Erdem Seçilmiş (2025): Wage Inequality Among Immigrants. In: International migration review, S. 1-34. DOI:10.1177/01979183251371691
Abstract
"This study investigates the dynamics of wage inequality among immigrants in the United States, a topic often overshadowed by discussions on the effects of immigration on native workers. Utilizing a unique dataset specifically created for this research, we calculate wage inequality using the Gini coefficient and Atkinson index, offering a nuanced analysis of trends across education levels, industries, and immigration policies. The findings reveal a sharp rise in wage inequality among immigrants post-2013, surpassing overall wage inequality in the United States for the first time in 2023. High-skilled sectors, particularly IT, demonstrate a stabilizing effect on wage disparity, while low-skilled immigrants face growing wage gaps exacerbated by stringent visa policies and economic disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Our econometric analysis highlights the dual role of minimum wage policies, which increase wage inequality in the short term but reduce it over the long run. This study emphasizes the need for inclusive immigration policies that address within-group disparities and enhance equity in the labor market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Analysis of unemployment hysteresis of country groups for migration policy: PANIC fourier evidence (2025)
Zitatform
Akcan, Ahmet Tayfur, İdris Yagmur, Murat Ergül & Ali Rauf Karataş (2025): Analysis of unemployment hysteresis of country groups for migration policy: PANIC fourier evidence. In: Comparative Migration Studies, Jg. 13. DOI:10.1186/s40878-025-00467-7
Abstract
"One of the most important reasons for international migration is unemployment, along with economic concerns. Domestic and international migration movements generally take place from regions with high unemployment to the regions where unemployment is low. Therefore, analyzing the labor market is important for predicting and directing migration movements. The World Bank grouping of countries includes 47 country groups according to their geographical and income status. In our study, the unemployment hysteresis of 48 groups, which includes the average of these 47 country groups and the world in general, has been analyzed. For the analysis of the unemployment hysteresis, six different variables were used: total unemployment rate, female unemployment rate, male unemployment rate, youth unemployment rate, youth female unemployment rate, and youth male unemployment rate. For analysis of unemployment hysteresis, the Fourier PANIC panel unit root test, which entered the literature in 2023, was used. Significant results were obtained for country groups. The results of the analysis show that the unemployment hysteresis is valid for total unemployment worldwide, while the natural rate hypothesis is prominent for youth and young males. While hysteresis is observed in total and male unemployment in low- and middle-income countries, the natural rate hypothesis is generally valid in high-income countries; however, hysteresis persists in female unemployment. Therefore, at the global level, encouraging controlled and need-driven migration movements from regions where the unemployment hysteresis is valid to regions where the natural rate hypothesis is valid, can contribute to reducing imbalances in labor markets. At the national level, selective labor transfer policies, taking into account labor market needs, can be implemented from regions with high unemployment hysteresis." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
-
Literaturhinweis
Business migration between labour and trade: evidence from Switzerland (2025)
Zitatform
Alvarado, Mariana, Paula Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik, Sandra Lavenex & Philipp Lutz (2025): Business migration between labour and trade: evidence from Switzerland. In: Comparative Migration Studies, Jg. 13, H. 1. DOI:10.1186/s40878-025-00483-7
Abstract
"Largely unnoticed by the migration literature, business migration has established itself as a form of labor migration that is substantial in terms of numbers and receives preferential treatment in international and national migration law. Intra-corporate transferees, contractual service suppliers and business visitors all fall within this category and benefit from facilitated admission procedures agreed under trade agreements and corresponding provisions in national legislation. Assigned for temporary stays and retaining their work contract in the home country, these business migrants represent a “market model” of migration policy exploiting the economic benefits of human movement while avoiding migrants’ integration into the host countries’ labor market and society. This article conceptualizes business migration at the nexus of trade law, international labor markets and migration research and uses a mix of legal analysis, population register and other statistical data as well as survey data from Switzerland to demonstrate the scale and importance of this under-investigated yet significant type of economic migration. Amounting to nearly half of the regulated labour immigration into Switzerland, business migration is strongly associated with trade and investment ties as well as the presence of multinational companies. In contrast, trade agreements facilitating this type of labour mobility have no systematic effect." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Aspekt auswählen:
- Forschung und Ergebnisse aus dem IAB
- Einwanderungspolitik
- Auswirkungen von Migration
- Wanderungsmotivation und Rückwanderung
- Arbeitslosigkeit und Arbeitsmarktpolitik
- Qualifikation, Bildung und Beschäftigung
- Integration und soziale Teilhabe
- internationale Aspekte
- Personengruppen