By 2028, the German economy will be short of around 768,000 skilled workers, and the pressure to act is high. To ensure a sustainable supply of skilled workers, immigration alone is not sufficient. The International Migration Outlook 2025 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that integration, especially within companies, is crucial. The Internationaler Bund (IB) sees great potential in involving companies more strongly in integration efforts and retaining immigrants in the labor market in the long term.
A key finding of the OECD study: immigrants in Germany earn about 43 percent less at the start of their careers than native workers of the same age and gender.
Lower advancement opportunities despite qualifications
This wage gap arises less from a lack of qualifications than from structural factors. Many migrants are employed long-term in sectors and companies with lower pay and, despite having professional expertise, have only limited opportunities for advancement.
Employers therefore play a key role. They are not only involved in recruiting international skilled workers but also have a decisive influence on the qualification, professional development, and long-term prospects of immigrants. The OECD study shows that integration processes have so far often focused on specific target groups and that the overall potential of companies can be utilized more effectively.
Companies can promote professional mobility, for example, through internal training and qualification measures, making it easier to move into better-paid or more suitable positions. In this way, employees can make better use of their skills. In addition, discrimination should be combated and social participation in the workplace should be strengthened.
The Internationaler Bund (IB) supports companies in fulfilling this role—with language support, recognition counseling, and work-integrated qualification programs.
“Migration alone is not enough. Dramatically cutting or even eliminating integration language courses sends an entirely wrong signal. Anyone who wants to attract and retain skilled workers must provide targeted support to immigrants. Only through the interaction of politics, business, and social education providers can skilled labor potential be secured sustainably. In this context, I also hold companies themselves accountable.”
Thiemo Fojkar Chairman of the Board of the Internationaler Bund (IB)