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Migrants on the German labour market ,
Extract from the series "Integration report", part 9
With 'Migrants on the German labour market', a ninth volume is added to the series "Integration Report". The Working Paper examines structural integration, a central subject matter besides school-based education and professional training. To do so, the report makes use of data from the Federal Employment Agency and the Microcensus.
Employment situation of Migrants: still disadvantaged, but process to change
Overall, immigrants and their descendants participate to a lesser extent in the German labour market than the population without a migration background (labour-force participation rate and employment rate). That is especially true for women. Distinct characteristics can also be identified among different groups of origin. Polish migrants, as an example, are characterised by a relatively high rate of employment overall, however not in occupations subject to social insurance contribution, a phenomena that can be traced back to their typical employment situation as contract-and seasonal workers.
Moreover, certain indicators for the labour market situation show that differences exist fore-most between the sexes and to a lesser extent between people with or without migration background (for instance foreigners and Germans). That is true for the level of part-time work, the distribution of employees in different economic sectors or specific employment situations, such as working on weekends and public holidays. In the area of occupational status, the general trend goes towards occupations as employee in the tertiary sector, a development that is taking place specifically for younger (female) employees with migration background. The status as worker in the manufacturing or building industry, however, loses its importance.
Higher unemployment rate
The population with a migration background is still faced with a significantly higher rate of unemployment (about double as high) than the population without migration background. Also, the share of the long-term unemployed is higher amongst foreign employees. The positive development on the German labour market from the year 2010 onwards however, has not yet been taken into account.
Authors of the study: Katharina Seebaß and Dr. Manuel Siegert
This publication is only available in German language.