Social and occupational integration of immigrants of German origin in Germany

Abstract

"In the last five years alone almost 1,5 million immigrants of German origin have come to Germany. Their social integration is not without problems: many of them have no, or insufficient command, of German. Their 'German' identy is related to traditional, conservative values that are not be found in today's Germany. In addition, Germans increasingly perceive these newcomers as competitors for scarce economic resources. Their vocational training and work experience does not comply with German requirements which makes it more difficult for them to find jobs. In the past this was of least consequence for males working in manual industrial jobs. Females with clerical or office occupations, however, stood almost no chance of finding satisfactory employment without further training. More training is also required for most occupations based on a university education. No precise unemployment rate can be computed for ethnic German immigrants. Indications, however, are that in general it is higher than for Germans. Unemployment, however, has increased less among ethnic German immigrants than among other Germans in the last two years. It is true, however, that many of these immigrants only find jobs, because they are prepared to accept any type of work, even if it is below their level of qualification. It is probable that even more of them will have to resort to employment below their level of skills in the future: since January 1993 severe cuts have been made in the financial support given for participation in vocational further training measures, designed to permit immigrants of German origin to meet German requirements in their various occupations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Koller, B. (1994): Social and occupational integration of immigrants of German origin in Germany. In: IAB Labour Market Research Topics No. 9, p. 1-17.