Foreign Labor Powering Thuringia's Job Market
In the latest Thuringian Integration and Migration Report, we see that foreign workers are playing a significant role in bolstering the job market in Thuringia. Integration Commissioner Mirjam Kruppa highlighted a surge in non-German workers aged between 15 and 35 years, an age group essential for our future workforce development.
Positive Migration Surplus Amid Population Drop
Kruppa shared that while the number of German workers has decreased since 2017, the count of foreign workers has seen a notable increase, climbing from approximately 42,000 in 2019 to 71,000 in 2023. As presented in the report, compiled by the Minor Institute and presented to the cabinet, roughly 11.1% of Thuringia's population boasts a migratory background, translating to around 232,000 individuals - mostly EU citizens or those with humanitarian residence titles.
The Impact of Recent Immigrants
Around 40% of Thuringia's population with a migration background settled within the last five years. This trend contributes to Thuringia's ongoing positive migration surplus amidst anticipated population decline. "These figures hold substantial implications given the projected population decline based on official statistics," explained Kruppa.
Bertelsmann Foundation's population forecast forecasts Thuringia's population to decrease by 10.9%, dropping to around 1.9 million inhabitants, between 2020 and 2040. The Society for Economic Structural Promotion (GWS) and the ifo Institute predict that Thuringia may lack around 250,000 workers by 2035.
Obstacles in the Path of Integration
Kruppa emphasized immigration's role in securing Thuringia's skilled workforce in the long term. She acknowledged a rise in racist crimes, indicating, "These hostility-laden attitudes impact integration negatively and pose a threat to social harmony." However, she viewed immigrants as "opportunities" and "overwhelmingly an enrichment for the state."
Kruppa emphasized that portraying migrants and refugees as problems to be solved is detrimental to Thuringia's prosperity.
Further Insights
Foreign labor contribution to Germany's job market, including Thuringia, is substantial:
- Skilled Worker Conundrum: Germany faces a severe paucity of skilled workers, particularly in sectors like construction, IT, teaching, childcare, and social care[1][4].
- Employment Stimulus: Foreign nationals, including asylum seekers and skilled workers, have played a pivotal role in Germany's employment growth. They've offset the employment decline of German nationals, primarily in the care and IT sectors[4].
However, challenges in integrating foreign workers exist, such as housing, qualification recognition, language barriers, and institutional hurdles, all of which impact their ability to find employment and assimilate into society[2][5].
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