Skilled foreign workers face an alarming level of discrimination in Germany, according to a new report published on Friday.
According to a survey conducted by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), some 56 per cent of skilled immigrant workers reported facing prejudice and discrimination in at least one area of life. Housing and employment were found to be particularly problematic.
The study found that 40 per cent of respondents felt discriminated against when looking for housing and 21 per cent felt disadvantaged in the workplace. Discrimination was also observed in everyday situations, such as in public transport, shops and restaurants.
About 20 per cent of immigrant professionals said they felt disadvantaged when dealing with public authorities. The study also found that 93 per cent of respondents said their ethnic origin was the main reason for the discrimination they faced.
The IAB experts warned that such experiences could significantly hinder the economic and social integration of skilled immigrant professionals, which could discourage them from choosing Germany as a long-term place of residence.
Germany, with a shrinking native population and a very weak labour market, is in dire need of skilled workers to fill some 778,000 vacancies. So badly in need, in fact, that it sometimes takes people with only a basic knowledge of German.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the list of sectors crying out for help is very extensive. These include mining and raw materials, industrial production, natural sciences, information technology, air transport, energy, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, vegetable farming, construction, architecture, surveying and building technology.
