Data from the microcensus-made available by the Federal Ministry of Education at the request of the AfD parliamentary group and reported on by “Welt am Sonntag”-reveals that a large portion of young people from asylum-receiving countries lack a recognized professional qualification. According to the data, 74.5 percent of Syrians aged 25 to 34 had no vocational qualification, while the figure stood at 72.1 percent for Afghans. The rate among Somalis was even higher, at 85.8 percent. Overall, more than one million foreigners between the ages of 25 and 34 lacked a professional qualification, making up 42.1 percent of all foreigners in that age group. For comparison, the proportion of Germans without a vocational qualification in this same age group was 13.9 percent.
René Springer, the labor policy spokesperson for the AfD parliamentary group, cited these education figures as clear evidence, stating, “We do not solve the skilled labor shortage through the mass immigration of a precarious educated population.”
A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education told the newspaper that the ministry did not possess current studies explaining the high proportion of individuals of Syrian or Afghan nationality without a professional qualification, as shown in the microcensus. However, the ministry did refer to a study concerning migrants who arrived in Germany between 2015 and 2017, noting that many were still young upon entry. They suggested that experiences of war, persecution, and fleeing might frequently lead to interrupted educational histories.
The ministry also stressed that the lack of formal qualifications should not be equated with a lack of competence, pointing out that Syria and Afghanistan do not have professional training systems comparable to the German one. Many vocational, technical, and commercial professions are sometimes carried out without formal qualifications in those countries.
Despite these contextual factors, the ministry acknowledged that the high share of formally unqualified individuals remains a problem. The spokesperson added that young people without qualifications are exposed to various risks, having fewer long-term prospects for good employment and sufficient income. She concluded by noting that the ministry has launched a vocational education qualification offensive, which includes measures designed to best prepare young people for the transition from school to work.
