The number of foreign nationals remaining unemployed for extended periods in Germany continues to rise.
According to the Federal Employment Agency, as of 2024, 33% of long-term unemployed individuals do not hold German citizenship. In 2018, this figure was 23%. Currently, this amounts to approximately 317,000 people out of a total of 972,000 registered long-term unemployed individuals.
The information was disclosed by Bundestag member René Springer from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who made an official inquiry to the agency. According to official data, more than half of the unemployed (533,000 people) have been jobless for over two years, while 260,000 have remained unemployed for more than four years.
Reports indicate that the primary increase in the number of unemployed non-citizens is linked to recent migration waves. Many newcomers are still searching for work, which is why 29% of all unemployed foreigners have been out of work for over a year. By comparison, this figure stands at 38% among German citizens.
Among long-term unemployed foreigners, the largest groups originate from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. A significant number also include Turks, Ukrainians, and citizens of Eastern European countries. Despite the increasing number of unemployed migrants, experts note that their share among all unemployed individuals is not yet critically high.
