Germany: crafts trades’ federations and IG Metall discuss the implementation of refugee occupational integration

380,000 refugees waiting for jobs integration. Germany’s economy is doing well, yet nevertheless it has to tackle the issue of integrating refugees into the jobs market, because a significant proportion of refugees into Germany never actually leave. The integration process based on language acquisition and then on occupational learning is necessarily a lengthy one. “We can’t expect too much”, explained Detlef Scheele, a board member of the Federal Employment Agency (BA), continuing, “when everything is going well, 10% of refugees manage to get a job after a year, 50% after five years and 70% after fifteen years.” Currently, the BA has calculated that there are roughly 380,000 refugees of working age ready to integrate, and they are mainly in the younger cohorts, “Under the age of 35 and the chances of learning a profession or trade are very good,” explained Detlef Scheele. Language experts estimate that it is tough to get a foreigner up to Language Level B1 (the minimum needed to function adequately in a professional capacity) in under a year.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

s and 70% after fifteen years.” Currently, the BA has calculated that there are roughly 380,000 refugees of working age ready to integrate, and they are mainly in the younger cohorts, “Under the age of 35 and the chances of learning a profession or trade are very good,” explained Detlef Scheele. Language experts estimate that it is tough to get a foreigner up to Language Level B1 (the minimum needed to function adequately in a professional capacity) in under a year.

An ‘integration year’ under d

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
EU: Commission proposes loosening of AI regulations
On 19 November, the European Commission published a proposal for an omnibus regulation aimed at simplifying the AI Act in order to ‘ensure the swift, smooth and proportionate implementation’ of...
24 November 2025
2
EU: list of new CSRD reporting standards finalised
On 4 December, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) presented the revised list of reporting indicators under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which...
5 December 2025
3
EU: co-legislators strike agreement on Omnibus Directive
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached an agreement on the night of 8 December on the weakening of the directives on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate...
9 December 2025
4
EU: Parliament formally adopts omnibus, diluting due diligence rules
On 16 December, the European Parliament formally approved the omnibus package amending the EU corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence directives. Their application has been pushed...
16 December 2025
5
Italy: three executives from luxury goods group Tod’s investigated over worker exploitation
Italian authorities are once again turning their attention to working conditions in the luxury goods supply chain. On 20 November, the Milan public prosecutor charged three senior executives of...
28 November 2025
6
Fashion brands accused of violating trade union freedoms in Asia
On 27 November, Amnesty International released a report denouncing widespread violations of trade union freedoms in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka by both governments and suppliers to...
28 November 2025