Ten years after former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s statement „We can do it,” many refugees in Germany feel less welcome than when they first arrived. At that time, hundreds of thousands came to the country. At the same time, concerns about xenophobia are growing. This is shown by analyses conducted by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) in Berlin on refugees who came to Germany between 2013 and 2019.
Declining sense of welcome
According to the study, the sense of welcome among refugees has been declining steadily since 2018. In 2017, 84 percent of those surveyed answered „yes” or „mostly yes” to the question of whether they felt welcome. In 2023, that figure had fallen to just 65 percent, according to the study. Refugees feel discriminated against in some areas, particularly in the labor and housing markets. There are also differences depending on gender, level of education, and region: male refugees perceive discrimination much more strongly in eastern Germany than in western Germany. Nevertheless, the study states that the willingness to naturalize is high.
Worse development opportunities for children
Another key finding is that the development opportunities of children born in Germany to refugees depend on social conditions and not on the refugee experience. According to the study, developmental differences in language, motor skills, and social behavior are evident in early childhood. These can be largely explained by the mother’s mental health, education, and employment, as well as access to childcare options.
Lack of education and integration into the labor market
Ten years after the high level of refugee migration, study author Sabine Zinn draws a mixed conclusion: most male refugees have entered the labor market. However, female refugees in particular are significantly less likely to be employed. Almost all of them are seeking naturalization—a sign that they want to stay in Germany permanently. However, their participation is hampered by a lack of education and integration into the labor market.
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DIW Berlin | Press release Studies on the culture of welcome
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