Migration and the labour market

Abstract

"In contrast to countries which have controlled the migration of workers in a targeted way, migration to Germany has been strongly shaped, since specific recruitment ceased, by huge political events such as the fall of the Iron Curtain or the civil wars in the former Yugoslavia. For this reason, it has oscillated much more strongly over the course of time than in the other important countries of destination of the OECD. However, for about ten years now, a new trend has been appearing: with increasing efforts towards education in the countries of origin of the migrants coming to Germany and a shift in the composition of the countries of origin in favour of the new Member States of the EU, the new immigrants tend to have higher qualifications. In the article by Professor Herbert Brücker, various different theoretical assumptions and model concepts are discussed relating to how, and via which mechanisms, migration can influence the labour market. After that, fairly recent empirical findings on the labour market effects of migration are presented, based on recent studies in the United States, Germany and other European countries. Building upon this, the question is then asked as to what results migration could have under the conditions of demographic change. Finally, conclusions linked to labour market and migration policy are drawn." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku)

Cite article

Brücker, H. (2012): Migration und Arbeitsmarkt. In: C. Kreklau & J. Siegers (Hrsg.) (2012): Handbuch der Aus- und Weiterbildung : Politik, Praxis, finanzielle Förderung, p. 1-28.