Immigrants are indispensable in many sectors facing labour shortages
In many sectors, such as construction, handcraft trades, and gastronomy, little would function without migrant workers. In many occupations suffering from shortages, employees with an immigration background are disproportionately represented, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) noted, based on results from the 2023 Microcensus. For example, in 2023, 67% of employees in drywall and finishing work had an immigration background, as did 51% in food production. According to the statisticians, the share was also notably high among tilers (47%), bus and tram drivers (46%), and service staff in gastronomy (45%).
Around a quarter have an immigration background
By comparison, across the entire economy, 26% of all employees had an immigration background, meaning they had either immigrated to Germany themselves since 1950, or had two parents who had done so. People living in communal accommodation were not included in this statistic. The Microcensus is a sample survey conducted annually, covering approximately 1% of Germany’s population.
Destatis also recorded above-average shares in meat processing (42%), food retail (41%), freight transport truck drivers (37%), elderly care (31%), as well as metalworking and electrical engineering (30% each). As per an analysis by the Federal Employment Agency, these so-called shortage occupations are already experiencing or are at risk of facing skilled labour shortages – a situation that is expected to worsen as the baby boomer generation retires.
Regardless of the specific occupation, some industries are particularly dependent on workers with an immigration background. According to the statisticians in Wiesbaden, this is especially true for the gastronomy sector. In 2023, more than half (54%) of all employees in the hospitality industry, regardless of their exact job, had an immigration background. The share was 49% in building maintenance – which includes cleaning services as well as landscaping – and 41% in warehousing and other transport services.
By contrast, people with foreign roots were significantly underrepresented in public administration, defense, and social security (10%), the insurance sector (13%), energy supply (14%), financial services (15%), as well as education and teaching (17%).
