Germany publishes migrant worker ratios
Recent statistics released by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden last Thursday revealed the significant role played by employees with immigrant backgrounds in supporting numerous economic sectors in Germany.
According to the data, many of these sectors would face significant challenges in carrying out their tasks without the contributions of these workers.
The results of the 2023 Mini-Census Survey revealed that the percentage of employees of immigrant origin in the construction and real estate development sector reached 67%, while the percentage in the food production sector reached 51%.
The study also showed that the proportion of immigrant workers exceeded the average in fields such as tile laying, bus and truck driving, and hospitality services.
The Federal Statistical Office noted that the definition of people with a migration background includes those who personally immigrated to Germany or whose parents immigrated since 1950, excluding residents of collective housing.
This data is based on a survey covering approximately 1% of the population.
Overall, 26% of workers across all economic sectors reported having immigrant backgrounds.
Sectors such as food retail (41%), elderly care (31%), and mining (30%) recorded higher-than-average rates, and are facing severe labor shortages, according to reports from the Federal Employment Agency.
Conversely, the proportion of migrant workers was low in the public administration, defense, and social security sectors (10%), insurance (13%), financial services (15%), and education (17%).
In a related context, deportation plans promoted by some far-right groups in Germany have raised significant concerns in the healthcare sector.
German hospitals rely heavily on immigrant medical personnel, with foreign doctors and nurses forming a vital part of the healthcare system.
Experts have warned that the deportation of these personnel could lead to a severe shortage of healthcare workers, threatening the quality of healthcare provided.
A social media campaign has highlighted this threat, with images of hospitals devoid of their medical staff.
