Evaluation of the Skilled Immigration Act
The German Bundestag (House of Representatives) published an evaluation of the Skilled Immigration Act.
Introduced in 2023, the Act aims to attract qualified professionals from abroad and support their integration into the labour market. Reforms include the “opportunity card”, which allows non-EU citizens to enter Germany to seek employment, and the “experience pillar” which targets applicants with relevant work experience but non-recognised degrees. Between June 2024 and November 2025, German missions issued 17 489 opportunity cards and 838 visas under the experience pillar. This was complemented by measures to facilitate recognition of qualifications and access to employment.
Plans for central agency to attract skilled foreign workers
Germany is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers as many near retirement. To address this, Labour Minister Bärbel Bas announced the creation of a “Work-and-Stay Agency” to simplify visa and residence permit procedures for migrant professionals. The digital platform will centralise applications, documentation, and coordination between authorities, easing access for workers and employers, including small and family-run businesses.
Around 300 000 third-country nationals (TCNs) currently hold employment permits: experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of new skilled workers are required each year to meet the labour market’s long-term needs. While not evaluating foreign qualifications itself, the agency will streamline labour migration and support the integration of skilled foreign workers into the German economy and workforce.
Refugee employment continues to rise
Refugee integration into Germany’s labour market has strengthened in recent years. A study by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) shows that 64 percent of refugees who arrived in 2015 were employed by 2024, approaching the national employment rate of 70 percent. About 90 percent of employed refugees held regular jobs subject to social insurance or were self-employed. Integration is influenced by factors such as length of stay, education, language skills, and regional labour market conditions.
Monthly Federal Employment Agency data for October 2025 indicate nearly 800,000 employed refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Eritrea, Somalia, Nigeria, and Pakistan, with 695,000 in regular jobs and 104,500 in marginal employment. Employment rates (50.2 percent) exceed the share receiving basic income support (41.9 percent) or registered as unemployed (27 percent). Longer residence correlates with higher employment, though many refugees remain in low- or semi-skilled occupations.
OECD report highlights necessity of support for upward mobility of migrants
The OECD’s International Migration Outlook 2025 highlights that migrants in Germany face certain barriers to upward economic mobility. Initial wages are found to be, on average, 34 % lower than those of native-born workers with similar qualifications, largely due to concentration in lower-paying sectors. Earnings are shown to improve over time, and structural disparities hinder career progression for some.
The report emphasises the role of employers in facilitating skills recognition, training, and advancement. Approximately 77 % of migrants in OECD countries are economically active, demonstrating strong workforce participation. Strengthening upward mobility through inclusive workplaces and targeted career support is key for integration and meeting Germany’s skilled labour needs, notes the document.
New study on untapped potential of migrant women
A new study by Kompetenzzentrum Fachsicherung (KOFA) shows that migrant women represent significant potential to address Germany’s skilled labour gaps. In 2024, around 520 000 migrant women in Germany were unemployed, many younger than average and overqualified for available positions. The study states that approximately 530 000 migrant women could fill shortage occupations in healthcare, elder care, and early childhood education. Targeted measures such as recognition of qualifications, upskilling, flexible hours, part-time options, and childcare support could enhance their integration into the labour market, increase participation in critical sectors, and help reduce pressures from demographic change.
Report on poverty risk among migrants and refugees
A recent analysis by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) finds that Germany’s overall poverty risk remains approximately 17 %, while people with a migration background face over 24 %, and refugees are particularly affected with 63.7 % at risk in 2022. Unemployed individuals are most affected, at 71%.
High poverty levels, according to the report, are closely linked to limited labour market integration, low-paid or mismatched jobs, slow recognition of foreign qualifications and language barriers. The report highlights the need for targeted measures to improve integration, including access to vocational training, faster qualification recognition, and stable employment opportunities for migrants and refugees.
Study on portrayal of crime and migration in German media
A recently published study finds that German media overrepresents non-German suspects in crime reporting. In 2024, approximately 34% of violent crime suspects were non-German, yet over 90% of news reports mentioning origin focused on migrants.
According to the published report, of roughly 12 million migrant residents in Germany, only 700 000 appeared as suspects (less than 10%). The study highlights the discrepancy between official statistics and media coverage, noting the potential negative impact on public perceptions of migrants. New rules in the state of Bavaria require police to disclose suspect nationality, which experts caution could further skew perceptions, affecting social cohesion and the integration of migrant communities.
DIW report on refugee integration, naturalisation and child development
The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) published a study examining various aspects of integration ten years after increased numbers of refugees arrived in Germany between 2013 and 2019. According to the report, many refugees in Germany report a reduced sense of welcome and ongoing experiences of discrimination since they arrived, particularly in housing. Despite these challenges, most express a desire to become German citizens. Between 2021 and 2023, the share of naturalised refugees rose from 2.1 % to 7.5 %.
The study also examined children of refugees born in Germany. While health at birth is comparable to other children, differences in language, motor skills, and social development emerge over time, influenced by socioeconomic factors such as maternal education, employment, mental health, and access to early childhood education. Researchers emphasise that long-term integration depends on policies supporting equal opportunities, education, and employment, which foster civic participation, social inclusion, and a stronger sense of belonging for refugees and their children.
DeZIM report on emigration intentions in Germany
A new study by the Deutsches Zentrum für Integrations‑ und Migrationsforschung (DeZIM) shows that between summer 2024 and 2025, approximately 21 % of people in Germany considered living abroad in the long term. Emigration intentions were found to be higher among first-generation immigrants (34 %) and their descendants (37 %) than among those without a migration background (17 %). People with family ties to Turkey or the MENA region were most likely to be considering leaving (39 %), followed by those with roots in the former Soviet Union (31 %) and EU countries (28 %). The main motivation was the prospect of a better quality of life, along with perceived discrimination. Only 2 % of those surveyed said they had concrete plans to leave Germany within a year.
Germany signs agreement with India on fair recruitment of nurses
The German government signed a memorandum of understanding with India to recruit nursing professionals, with a view to addressing labour shortages in the healthcare sector and supporting faster labour market integration. The agreement sets common standards for recruitment and training and aims to reduce lengthy recognition procedures. Training will take place in India and include free German language courses up to level B2 and intercultural preparation.
Under the Global Skills Partnerships model, German and Indian institutions will jointly adapt curricula to meet German licensing requirements while remaining compatible with Indian training standards. The scheme follows the principles of fair recruitment: it is transparent, free of charge for applicants and aligned with the “Fair Recruitment Care Germany” quality framework.
The initiative is intended to ensure sustainable recruitment, strengthen bilateral cooperation and facilitate the long-term integration of qualified nurses into Germany’s healthcare system.