OECD takes positive stock of the integration of immigrants in Germany
In comparison to other countries, the labor market outcomes for Migrant women and men have been good. This population group reached an employment rate of 70 percent in 2022, a quote significantly higher than in most other EU comparison countries.
The researchers attributed this to the comprehensive language promotion - the language skills of immigrants have improved more in Germany than in most EU countries. According to the report, more than four fifths of immigrants, after five years of residence in Germany, speak German fluently with an original medium language proficiency.
However, the report identified challenges for immigrants with a low education level, which at most corresponds to a primary school education. More than one sixth of the immigrant population in Germany falls into this category, and this share has mainly increased in the past ten years due to the high number of refugees.
According to the report, only half of immigrants with a low education level are employed. Only one quarter of this group reached a proficient German language level after at least five years of residence. The OECD regretted that Germany lags behind other OECD countries in the further education of these people.
On the other hand, the employment rates of immigrants with a secondary education degree should be compared to those of natives. Born-in-Germany children of immigrants also achieved better educational results than in most other countries.
However, the report states that the school performance of children and adolescents who come to Germany only during their school years is below average in comparison to other OECD countries. The already existing performance gap to domestic pupils has further increased in recent years. The OECD sees this as a possible consequence of school closures during the Coronapandemic.
Another challenge identified by the OECD is discrimination - one fifth of non-EU immigrants reported feeling discriminated against in Germany in the latest survey. However, social integration in Germany is better. The proportion of Migrant women and men living in relative poverty is lower than in most other main target countries.
- The balance sheet of Germany's integration policies for migrants and immigrants reveals a mixed picture, as revealed in the OECD's report.
- Despite the progress made in linguistic integration among migrants in Germany, the OECD highlights the underperformance of immigrants with a low education level in further education.
- The OECD report urges Germany to pay more attention to the integration of migrant children, whose school performance lags behind their peers in other EU countries.
- Germany's comprehensive language promotion policies for immigrants have led to a higher employment rate for migrant women and men than in most other EU countries, as stated in the OECD report, but challenges remain in integrating certain groups, such as immigrants with a low education level.
