Germany is facing labor shortages in several key sectors. Interestingly, these sectors are mainly staffed by workers with an immigration background. This shows just how important immigrants are to the country and its economy.
The Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, published data. It shows that in sectors like construction, food production, and transport, which are very important for the country, more than half of the employees have an immigration background, Schengen.News reports.
In 2023, things were even more specific. In construction and drywall construction, 67% of the workforce had an immigration background. In food production, 51% of the employees fell into this category. Among bus and tram drivers, 46% of the workers had an immigration background.
Foreign – Born Workers and Those with Immigration Background are a Big Part of Germany’s Economy
Overall, in the German economy, over a quarter (26%) of all employees in sectors with labor shortages had an immigration background. This means they either immigrated to Germany since 1950 or both of their parents did.
These workers are also the main part of other sectors with labor shortages. For example, in meat processing, they make up 42% of the workforce. In food sales, it’s 41%. Among freight passport professional drivers, it’s 37%. In elderly care, 31%, and in metal construction, 30%.
On the other hand, in some occupations, people with an immigration background are not as common. In insurance sales, only 13% have an immigration background. In the police service, it’s 6%. In public administration, 9%. Among teachers, it’s around 10%, and in commercial and technical business administration, 12%.
A large number of employees with an immigration background work in postal, courier, and express services. The same goes for the accommodation sector, with 40% in each. In motor vehicle production (31%) and in old people’s and nursing homes and similar institutions (30%), these sectors have a lot of employees, over one million each. And the proportion of workers with an immigration background is much higher than the average for the whole economy (26%).
Workers with an Immigration Background are Least Common in These Occupations
In 2023, this group of workers was least common in the following jobs:
- Public administration (10%)
- Defense and social security (10%)
- Insurance (13%)
- Energy supply (14%)
- Financial services (15%)
- Education (17%)
However, in catering and accommodation, workers with an immigration background are very common. In 2023, more than half of all employees in the catering industry had an immigration history. The same is true for those in building, cleaning, gardening, and landscaping. Here, 49% of the employees were immigrants or their parents had come to Germany in the 1950s.
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