- Large numbers have completed an integration course
- 1.7 million vacancies
- Work accelerates integration
- Modern job market integration
- More information
Helping refugees find work and supporting their effective integration into education and work. Germany urgently needs more (skilled) workers. A large number of refugees living here have completed their integration course, have basic German skills and are ready for a new start in the German job market Now everyone is called upon to ensure that people find work quickly and integrate successfully.
The federal government will step up its efforts to integrate refugees into work quickly and effectively. Because work and integration are mutually dependent.
Large numbers have completed an integration course
The integration course system was expanded enormously in a short space of time: In 2022 over 340,000 people started an integration course, and this figure is set to rise again in 2023. 200,000 Ukrainians alone have recently completed the integration course or will do so in the next few months. This means that many refugees who have completed an integration course and have a basic knowledge of German will soon be available to work in Germany.
1.7 million vacancies
Many sectors in Germany are in urgent need of (skilled) workers. There were around 1.7 million vacancies in the third quarter of 2023. There has been a shortage of skilled workers in many fields, such as the care and trade sectors, for years.
Work accelerates integration
Integration and work go hand in hand. People who have a job and regularly talk to their co-workers are generally better able to improve their language skills and make social connections at work and elsewhere. The vast majority of the people who come to us from Ukraine are well educated and have what it takes to enter the German job market in the long term. These skills need to be harnessed. Companies are to be encouraged to employ more refugees who don’t yet speak good German and to develop their skills in the company.
Modern job market integration
Seeking advice and using the employment service to make plans. With a focus on sustainable job market integration, job seekers can find numerous effective forms of support in the Job Centres and Federal Employment Agencies to help them secure high-quality, long-term employment.
Three integration phases
Integration typically happens in three phases
Phase 1 is about arrival, finding your way around and acquiring basic language skills, which usually happens in the integration course. Most jobs require a basic knowledge of German. But if you find a job without German skills, you can start work immediately. Skilled workers and experts who can work without German skills (such as in the IT sector) will also usually find a job quickly through the Federal Employment Agencies and Job Centres.
Phase 2 is about navigating your entry into the training and job market. The longer someone is unemployed, the more difficult it is to get back to work. To make this process easier, the Job Centres regularly invite refugees to attend consultation appointments. Even without attending such an appointment, qualifications are recorded based on self-assessments so that people can receive suitable job offers. The individual integration elements are set out in the cooperation plan together with the Job Centres. The integration agreements must be adhered to, otherwise the benefit reduction system of Social Code Book II (SGB II) will continue to apply. Job-integrated (language) training opportunities can make a big difference to an employee starting out in and adjusting to a new workplace.
Having gained initial experience on the job market, refugees may have the opportunity to develop their skills and consolidate their job. Various funding options are available to them and the companies. In particular, the recognition process for a foreign vocational qualification, including any necessary compensatory measures and language acquisition, should be completed in Phase 3 if there is a prospect of this being successful. Employers, and especially Ukrainian refugees with temporary protection status, are notified about the option of switching to a residence title for employment purposes.
More information
- Ukraine's Ambassador visited the Ministry to discuss the implementation of the "Job-Turbo" with Federal Minister Hubertus Heil and Special Representative Daniel Terzenbach
- Job-Turbo for the job market integration of refugees
- Job-Turbo fact sheet (Deutsch) [PDF, 84KB]
- Getting started with Job-Turbo
- Find skilled workers – employ refugees