Last autumn, German Labor Minister Hubertus Heil announced the “Job Turbo” initiative aimed at integrating refugees into the labor market faster and addressing the skilled labor shortage. But is it working?
The “Job Turbo” initiative seeks to expedite employment for refugees through more courses, increased engagement from agencies, and reduced bureaucratic obstacles. This comprehensive set of measures is intended to mitigate the skilled labor shortage. But does it deliver results?
Challenges in implementation
Jeanette Lucke, managing director of Neue Linie Friseure in Brandenburg an der Havel, employs around 60 staff, including three refugees. She finds the Job Turbo’s ideas promising but sees room for improvement in execution. “The people who come here want to work,” says Lucke. “But the collaboration must improve; more needs to happen.”
Significant delays between steps and a lack of personnel in responsible agencies hinder the program’s effectiveness. This inefficiency frustrates businesses and slows down the integration process.
About Job Turbo:
The Job Turbo initiative, launched by the German federal government, aims to accelerate the integration of refugees into the workforce. Refugees who have completed an integration course are encouraged to gain work experience promptly while also acquiring further qualifications. The goal is sustainable and effective labor market integration, with job centers and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees providing practical support for language acquisition and in-service training. Companies are encouraged to hire refugees even if they have basic German language skills, emphasizing the importance of teamwork for successful integration.
The Job Turbo initiative has successfully integrated nearly 33,000 Ukrainian refugees into the German labor market. According to the “Passauer Neue Presse,” between November of the previous year and the end of May, 32,794 Ukrainians found employment or started training through the Job Turbo program.
This initiative also targets refugees from other countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Eritrea. Between November and May, 90,766 unemployed refugees from these nations entered the labor market. In April, Heil reported approximately 225,000 additional consultations in job centers compared to the previous year.
Kathleen Exner, who handles personnel matters at Bäckerei Exner, shares similar concerns. She believes political ideas often lack practical consideration. The shortage of staff in local authorities hampers the implementation of even the best plans, further complicating the recruitment of skilled workers.
“We regularly receive applications from refugees. We hire and support them,” Exner states. “But this currently runs at the expense of companies, while a lot of money is invested in concepts.”
A need for practical solutions
The practical implementation of Heil’s ideas faces significant delays and challenges. The government is considering improvements to the law, such as requiring active objection from authorities instead of granting work permits. This change might accelerate the Job Turbo’s impact.
While the Job Turbo initiative has shown promise in integrating refugees into the labor market, it faces significant bureaucratic and personnel challenges. Improvements in collaboration and practical implementation are necessary to fully realize its potential and address the skilled labor shortage effectively.
