A recent study from the employer‑focused Institute of the German Economy in Cologne shows that Iranian residents in Germany are better integrated into the labour market than many other immigrant groups. Of the roughly 162,000 Iranians living in the country, 58.6 % are formally employed and subject to social‑security contributions. That proportion is higher than for Afghans, Iraqis and Syrians, whose employment rates range between 40 % and 44 %.
Educational attainment among Iranian workers is also noticeably above average. According to the study, 43.3 % of Iranian employees hold a university degree, compared with only 19.5 % of foreign workers from other backgrounds. This higher level of education is reflected in the types of jobs they occupy: 73.1 % work as skilled professionals, and 31.7 % hold specialist or expert roles. In contrast, only 62.7 % of other foreign employees are in skilled occupations and 18.3 % are specialists or experts.
The wage gap mirrors the educational and occupational differences. Iranian workers earn an average monthly salary of €3,528, whereas the average for other immigrant groups is €3,204.
Women also show stronger integration. Forty‑one percent of Iranian women are employed, slightly higher than the 39 % employment rate for women from other foreign backgrounds.
The study draws on data from the Federal Statistical Office, the Federal Employment Agency, and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
