TY - BOOK

T1 - Essays on the labour market performance of immigrants in Germany

AU - Ingwersen, Kai

N1 - Doctoral thesis

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Immigrants in Germany have lower success in the labour market than native Germans. This circumstance not only applies to the immigrants themselves but also persists in subsequent generations. The reasons for lower labour market success are as manifold as the group of immigrants themselves, but the cause often lies in inadequate occupational integration. The literature clearly shows that besides differences in occupational qualifications, language proficiency, and cognitive abilities, immigrants also face bureaucratic obstacles and reservations in the workplace that diminish their labour market performance. The consequence of immigrants’ disadvantaged position is fewer labour market opportunities, which often results in a lower social status and thus reduced participation in society. The aim of this thesis is to measure several aspects of immigrants’ economic integration of immigrants. A particular focus of this study is the identification of unequal treatment of immigrants in the German labour market. The findings of the thesis are intended to identify starting points for the improvement of the labour market situation of immigrants. It appears that a considerable share of the wage gap between immigrants and natives is not due to differences in human capital endowment, indicating that immigrants are paid at a disadvantage. The introduction of a statutory minimum wage in Germany also has not led to wage convergence at the lower end of the wage distribution. In fact, the minimum wage led to increased competition for employment, putting lower-skilled immigrants at a further disadvantage. Furthermore, additional investigations reflect perceptions of an increased workload and accompanying health complaints among immigrants. The disadvantaged position of immigrants in the German labour market is thus reflected not only in remuneration but also in increased strain in the workplace.

AB - Immigrants in Germany have lower success in the labour market than native Germans. This circumstance not only applies to the immigrants themselves but also persists in subsequent generations. The reasons for lower labour market success are as manifold as the group of immigrants themselves, but the cause often lies in inadequate occupational integration. The literature clearly shows that besides differences in occupational qualifications, language proficiency, and cognitive abilities, immigrants also face bureaucratic obstacles and reservations in the workplace that diminish their labour market performance. The consequence of immigrants’ disadvantaged position is fewer labour market opportunities, which often results in a lower social status and thus reduced participation in society. The aim of this thesis is to measure several aspects of immigrants’ economic integration of immigrants. A particular focus of this study is the identification of unequal treatment of immigrants in the German labour market. The findings of the thesis are intended to identify starting points for the improvement of the labour market situation of immigrants. It appears that a considerable share of the wage gap between immigrants and natives is not due to differences in human capital endowment, indicating that immigrants are paid at a disadvantage. The introduction of a statutory minimum wage in Germany also has not led to wage convergence at the lower end of the wage distribution. In fact, the minimum wage led to increased competition for employment, putting lower-skilled immigrants at a further disadvantage. Furthermore, additional investigations reflect perceptions of an increased workload and accompanying health complaints among immigrants. The disadvantaged position of immigrants in the German labour market is thus reflected not only in remuneration but also in increased strain in the workplace.

U2 - 10.15488/13569

DO - 10.15488/13569

M3 - Doctoral thesis

CY - Hannover

ER -