Foreign workers should help combat the shortage of skilled workers in Germany. A study provides information about where they experience discrimination – and what other hurdles there are.
Many workers from abroad feel discrimination and high barriers to immigration in Germany. This is the result of a study by the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research (IAB) in Nuremberg.
Around 56 percent of foreign skilled workers report discrimination in at least one area of life – especially when looking for accommodation. Respondents reported discrimination less frequently when dealing with institutions such as schools, health care facilities or the police. However, a good fifth feel disadvantaged when dealing with offices or authorities. The IAB researchers concluded that there are significant challenges to social integration.
Bureaucratic hurdles remain high
Despite the legal changes as a result of the Skilled Immigration Act (FEG), there are still bureaucratic hurdles when it comes to issuing visas, recognizing professional qualifications and dealing with family issues: “It is important to recognize that immigration decisions are often made jointly by families,” said the IAB expert Boris Ivanov according to the statement.
“Holistic support for the immigration process,” which also takes into account the partner’s job search, child care and apartment search, could support immigration to Germany, said IAB researcher Tanja Fendel.
Personal contacts with people who already live in Germany were cited as the most common source of information about Germany as a country of immigration. “Their experiences can make a decisive contribution to the perception of Germany as an attractive destination for skilled workers,” said Ivanov.
High proportion of young people
According to the IAB, between 2010 and 2019, labor migration from non-EU countries increased from 30,000 to 64,000 people per year. There was a decline during the pandemic, with the number reaching 72,000 in 2023. The proportion of younger people between the ages of 18 and 31 who received a residence permit for employment purposes after the law was introduced rose from 42 percent to 61 percent.
The Skilled Immigration Act from 2020 is intended to make it easier for people from third countries to immigrate to Germany in order to work here and curb the shortage of skilled workers.
Source: Stern
