Without people with a migration background, the situation in Germany would be even bleaker in sectors where there is a shortage of skilled workers. This was the result of an analysis of population data by the Federal Statistical Office.
In construction, the food industry, gastronomy or nursing, many people with a history of immigration are represented to an above-average extent. These are sectors that are particularly affected by the shortage of skilled workers. Thus, 67 percent of employees in the field of drywall and plaster construction in 2023 had a history of immigration, according to a statement from the Federal Statistical Office. The share is also above average in the occupational group of tilers.
High proportion in geriatric care
The proportion of employees with a history of immigration in occupations facing shortages, such as in meat processing (42 percent), in food sales (41 percent), among professional drivers in freight transport (37 percent) or in geriatric care (31 percent), is well above the average for the economy as a whole. In 2023, more than half of all dependent employees in the catering industry had an immigration history. In building maintenance – which includes building cleaning, but also gardening and landscaping – it was almost half. People with an immigration history are those who have immigrated to Germany themselves since 1950 or whose both parents had immigrated.
Further information is available at:
Federal Statistical Office | Employees with a history of immigration in shortage occupations
Tagesschau | Immigrants indispensable in many occupations
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Analysis by the Federal Employment Agency on the demand for skilled workers
Employment Agency | Bottleneck analysis
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