Since the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalated in February 2022, Germany has become one of the top destinations for Ukrainian refugees in Europe. The German government has welcomed about 1.2 million people fleeing the war. However, a recent report by Stern magazine reveals that a special program designed to help these refugees find jobs has mostly failed.
The program, known as the “Job Turbo” initiative, was launched by Germany’s Labor Minister Hubertus Heil last October. The goal was to help refugees quickly transition from receiving government support to finding employment. Minister Heil even predicted that this program could help around 400,000 refugees become self-sufficient and stop relying on government benefits.
But the reality is starkly different. According to an analysis by the Federal Audit Office presented to the German parliament, the efforts of job centers to connect refugees with employment have been disappointing. In 2024, less than one percent of job placements for refugees were made through these centers. This means that many refugees are still struggling to find work.
As a result, a significant number of Ukrainian refugees, around 720,000, are still receiving financial support known as “Bürgergeld” or citizen’s benefits. This costs German taxpayers an eye-watering €539 million every month.
The report highlighted several problems with the Job Turbo initiative. One major issue is that many refugees are not receiving the counseling they need to find jobs. In fact, the auditors found that about a third of the refugees did not receive any counseling this year, which is crucial for helping them integrate into the job market. This lack of support has led to many refugees dropping out of integration courses altogether.
Another concern raised by the audit was that job centers often don’t have important information about the refugees, such as their educational backgrounds, work experience, and language skills. Without this information, it’s much harder for job centers to match refugees with suitable jobs.
The waiting times for refugees to enroll in these courses have also been too long, which adds to the overall inefficiency of the program. While some neighboring countries like Denmark have seen higher employment rates for refugees, Germany’s Job Turbo program has not delivered the expected results.
The struggle to find jobs means that many refugees continue to rely on government support, putting a strain on Germany’s budget. This situation raises important questions about how well the country is managing the integration of Ukrainian refugees into its workforce.
As the situation develops, the German government will need to reevaluate its strategies to ensure that Ukrainian refugees can find stable employment and contribute to their new homes.
