Immigrants in the German labour market: The case of Italians, Greeks, Former-Yugoslavs and Turks

As an outcome of the migratory started in the mid-50s, Germany today represents the second largest country of immigration in the world (following the United States) and the most important in continental Europe. During the recruitment phase of the 1960s, labour immigration has been very relevant, as the need for support of labour force in Germany was very high. Despite the ban of recruitment in the early 1970s, the flows and the number of foreign residents in Germany have continued to increase even today, although the composition of the foreign communities has undergone significant changes. During the recruitment phase, Italians and Greeks, having the oldest history of establishment, showed a strong migratory dynamic while, starting in the early 1970s up to recent years, Turks and Former-Yugoslavs became, respectively, the first and the second largest foreign community. However, the article shows that a very strong migration for political reason during recent years (refugees and asylum seekers) has been added to migration for work purposes of the 1960s and the early 1970s, also in the form of family reunification, so that it appears very difficult to interpret the analysis of the economic integration of foreigners in Germany. Anyway, the general indicators of the labour market provide important information on the participation of the main immigrant groups. Turks and Former-Yugoslavs show lower levels of activity rates, while participation rates of Italians and Greeks appear higher than other immigrant groups. The unemployment rates, which are lower among Italians and Greeks and much higher among Turks and Former-Yugoslavs, record high degrees, above all, with reference to the female foreign labour force. The article shows that occupational structure of foreigners records significant differences among the foreign workers. For Italians and Greeks, the quota of employees into the service sector is higher than Turks and Former-Yugoslavs. Moreover, the share of women occupied in the services as dependent workers appears very high, while Italian and Greeks males are engaged mostly in self-employed activities especially in the food sector.