View in EDS

Are Young Refugees More Likely to Enter Training Places with Vacancy Problems? Comparisons between Immigrant Youths in Germany

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Are Young Refugees More Likely to Enter Training Places with Vacancy Problems? Comparisons between Immigrant Youths in Germany
Language: English
Authors: Alexander Christ, Oliver Winkler
Source: International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training. 2026 13(3):443-473.
Availability: European Educational Research Association / European Research Network Vocational Education and Training.Am Fallturm 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany. Tel: +49-421-218-66336; Fax: +49-421-218-98-66336; e-mail: ijrvet@uni-bremen.de; Web site: http://www.ijrvet.net
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 31
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Youth, Undocumented Immigrants, Refugees, Career and Technical Education, Career Choice, Employment Opportunities, Occupations, Labor Needs, Context Effect, Enrollment Influences
Geographic Terms: Germany
ISSN: 2197-8638
2197-8646
Abstract: Context: In Germany, young refugees participate in vocational education and training (VET) at significantly lower rates than non-migrants and migrants without a refugee background. At the same time, the German training market is increasingly characterized by shortages of applicants in specific training occupations, resulting in a growing number of unfilled training places. During the refugee inflow of 2015 and 2016, policymakers, employers, and researchers emphasized the potential of vocational training to promote refugees' labor market integration while simultaneously alleviating recruitment problems in shortage occupations. Entering VET may also improve refugees' prospects for remaining in Germany, particularly for those with insecure residence status. Against this background, this study examines whether young refugees are disproportionately likely to enter training occupations with vacancy problems and whether legal insecurity further shapes these transitions. Methods: The analysis draws on pooled cross-sectional data from the BA/BIBB Applicant Surveys 2018 and 2020, linked with official statistics on unfilled training places at the occupational level. The analytical sample includes 7,176 applicants who successfully entered dual vocational training. The dependent variable measures the proportion of unfilled training places in the occupation entered. Ordinary least squares regressions are used to estimate differences by migration status. To test whether human capital endowments account for group differences, mediation analyses focusing on school-leaving certificates recognized or acquired in Germany are conducted. The role of residence status is examined using a subsample of refugee applicants from 2018 (N = 2,043), for whom detailed legal status information is available. Findings: The findings show that young refugees enter training occupations with significantly higher vacancy rates than both non-migrants and migrants without a refugee background. Compared to non-migrants, refugees transition into occupations in which the share of unfilled training places is, on average, 39 percent higher. Differences in school-leaving certificates partially, but not fully, mediate this association. Among refugees, those with an insecure residence status or who are still in the asylum process are more likely to enter shortage occupations, even after controlling for formal qualification levels. This pattern suggests that legal considerations shape occupational choices beyond human capital constraints. Conclusion: The results indicate that disadvantaged legal and educational positions contribute to the concentration of young refugees in training occupations with vacancy problems. While this dynamic may appear as a short-term win--win situation for employers and refugees, it also entails risks such as increased training dropout rates and long-term occupational segregation.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506123
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1506123
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1506123
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Are Young Refugees More Likely to Enter Training Places with Vacancy Problems? Comparisons between Immigrant Youths in Germany
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexander+Christ%22">Alexander Christ</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Oliver+Winkler%22">Oliver Winkler</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+for+Research+in+Vocational+Education+and+Training%22"><i>International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training</i></searchLink>. 2026 13(3):443-473.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: European Educational Research Association / European Research Network Vocational Education and Training.Am Fallturm 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany. Tel: +49-421-218-66336; Fax: +49-421-218-98-66336; e-mail: ijrvet@uni-bremen.de; Web site: http://www.ijrvet.net
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 31
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Youth%22">Youth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undocumented+Immigrants%22">Undocumented Immigrants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Refugees%22">Refugees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+and+Technical+Education%22">Career and Technical Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment+Opportunities%22">Employment Opportunities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupations%22">Occupations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+Needs%22">Labor Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Context+Effect%22">Context Effect</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Enrollment+Influences%22">Enrollment Influences</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Germany%22">Germany</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2197-8638<br />2197-8646
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Context: In Germany, young refugees participate in vocational education and training (VET) at significantly lower rates than non-migrants and migrants without a refugee background. At the same time, the German training market is increasingly characterized by shortages of applicants in specific training occupations, resulting in a growing number of unfilled training places. During the refugee inflow of 2015 and 2016, policymakers, employers, and researchers emphasized the potential of vocational training to promote refugees' labor market integration while simultaneously alleviating recruitment problems in shortage occupations. Entering VET may also improve refugees' prospects for remaining in Germany, particularly for those with insecure residence status. Against this background, this study examines whether young refugees are disproportionately likely to enter training occupations with vacancy problems and whether legal insecurity further shapes these transitions. Methods: The analysis draws on pooled cross-sectional data from the BA/BIBB Applicant Surveys 2018 and 2020, linked with official statistics on unfilled training places at the occupational level. The analytical sample includes 7,176 applicants who successfully entered dual vocational training. The dependent variable measures the proportion of unfilled training places in the occupation entered. Ordinary least squares regressions are used to estimate differences by migration status. To test whether human capital endowments account for group differences, mediation analyses focusing on school-leaving certificates recognized or acquired in Germany are conducted. The role of residence status is examined using a subsample of refugee applicants from 2018 (N = 2,043), for whom detailed legal status information is available. Findings: The findings show that young refugees enter training occupations with significantly higher vacancy rates than both non-migrants and migrants without a refugee background. Compared to non-migrants, refugees transition into occupations in which the share of unfilled training places is, on average, 39 percent higher. Differences in school-leaving certificates partially, but not fully, mediate this association. Among refugees, those with an insecure residence status or who are still in the asylum process are more likely to enter shortage occupations, even after controlling for formal qualification levels. This pattern suggests that legal considerations shape occupational choices beyond human capital constraints. Conclusion: The results indicate that disadvantaged legal and educational positions contribute to the concentration of young refugees in training occupations with vacancy problems. While this dynamic may appear as a short-term win--win situation for employers and refugees, it also entails risks such as increased training dropout rates and long-term occupational segregation.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1506123
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1506123
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 31
        StartPage: 443
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Youth
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undocumented Immigrants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Refugees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career and Technical Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment Opportunities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor Needs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Context Effect
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Enrollment Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Germany
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Are Young Refugees More Likely to Enter Training Places with Vacancy Problems? Comparisons between Immigrant Youths in Germany
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Alexander Christ
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Oliver Winkler
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2197-8638
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2197-8646
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 13
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training
              Type: main
ResultId 1