Active Labour Market Measures in Germany: Matching the Needs of Potential Labour Force of Recent Refugees in Germany
- With over one million people arriving in Germany to seek asylum since 2013, entering the labour market remains a key aspect for a successful integration process. In their attempt to attain employment, the recently arrived refugees face multiple challenges. One aspect that offers great potential to support them in finding suitable jobs and enhance their employability are Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs). This includes measures such as job-counselling, vocational training and direct placement in public or subsidised employment.
This research explores the extent to which ALMPs meet the needs and aspirations of recently arrived refugees with regard to entering the labour market. By means of conducting interviews with members of the target group, this research aims to gain insights into the accessibility, relevance and overall suitability of ALMPs from the perspective of the study participants themselves.
The study shows that the participants ALMPs as relevant in terms of responding to their employment needs and aspirations. However, they perceive the accessible range of activation measures to be limited to a large degree. Certain activation measures were perceived as highly irrelevant, while some were even perceived to be obstructive to their pursuit of employment. Most notably, the participants felt supported by the employees of Public Employment Services (PES) when it comes to receiving short term training. However, when it comes to long-term training, they felt discouraged or even obstructed. This illustrated a perceived conflict between the participants' long-term aspirations, which included a focus on long-term development, and the PES’s emphasis on short-term arrangements and a quick path into employment.