Occupational and economic mobility and social integration of Mediterranean migrants in Germany

Foreigners of Mediterranean immigrant origin still occupy the lower positions in the German labour market. The employment profile is clearly different from that of German wage earners and salaried employees. Results from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study show that 60% of this foreign population was employed as unskilled or semi-skilled workers in 1993. Between 1984 and 1993 their occupational mobility was relatively low. The situation of the second generation has clearly improved. To a small degree they even found access to attractive jobs in the service sector. But compared with Germans of the same age group their occupational success is limited. The social situation of foreigners is characterised by increasing segregation.