A Look at the Representation of Immigrants in Berlin's Federal Administration
Relatively Few Offspring of Immigrants Occupy Positions in the Federal Government - Limited heritage individuals occupy roles within the Federal government
Kick it casual! Let's dive into the less-than-ideal representation of immigrants and their descendants in Berlin's federal administration, shall we? The results of a recent survey by the office of the integration commissioner reveal that even with efforts to promote diversity, the proportion of employees with a migration background still trails behind.
Last year, 16.2% of employees in the federal administration had a migration background—a 3.1% increase from five years ago. However, that's still significantly lower than the 31.9% proportion of people with a migration background in the working-age population—roughly double! The study considers employees to have a migration background if they or their parents aren't German by birth.
Integration commissioner, Natalie Pawlik, isn't thrilled with these numbers: "We need to unlock the potential of folks with an immigration history in the public service. We've gotta make a change!"
The survey polled over 50,000 employees in 73 federal authorities in May and June 2020. This data also highlights a worrying trend: employees with a migration background are more likely to experience discriminatory behavior than their counterparts without one.
Discrimination based on various factors— ethnic origin, gender, age, religion, disability, family obligations, appearance, skin color, and lack of professional networks—was considered. While 15.6% of employees without a migration history reported instances of discrimination, the figure among those with immigration history was a staggering 23.6%. And get this, more than a quarter (25.6%) of the descendants of immigrants reported workplace discrimination!
The federal cabinet already outlined a diversity strategy titled "Together for More Diversity in the Federal Administration" in January 2020 under the previous coalition government. However, the strategy lacked concrete steps. Federal authorities were recommended to define internal diversity goals and derive specific measures to meet them, as well as to encourage the formation of employee networks.
In a Nutshell:
- Federal Administration: Still lagging when it comes to representing individuals with a migration background.
- Survey: Data from over 50,000 federal employees reveal an alarming trend of discrimination based on various factors.
- Migration Background: People with a migration background are significantly underrepresented in the federal administration compared to the working-age population.
- Berlin: We're talking about the magnificent city serving as the epicenter of our federal administration.
- Discrimination: More than a quarter of descendants of immigrants and over 20% of immigrants themselves reported experiencing discrimination at work.
- The community policy should aim to bridge the gap between the underrepresentation of individuals with a migration background in Berlin's federal administration and the working-age population, fostering a more inclusive work environment.
- The employment policy needs to address the disturbing trend of higher rates of discrimination faced by employees with a migration background, impacting their relationships within the federal administration and general news.
- In light of the concerning numbers and widespread discrimination, it is essential that the politics surrounding policy-and-legislation regarding immigration and diversity in the federal administration undergo significant changes for a more equitable lifestyle.
