A recent study on the so-called job turbo shows the measures to be very successful and thus provides new insights into how refugees can be successfully integrated into the labor market. Despite this positive assessment, there is a risk of success without a lasting effect.
The Job Turbo is a program that was launched by the then coalition government in 2023. The proclaimed goal of the program is to integrate refugees into the German labour market as quickly and effectively as possible. To make this possible, various offers such as language courses, coaching, further training and financial support options for employers are made available. Various stakeholders such as job centers, employment agencies, local authorities and companies are working together to implement the programme.
The study at a glance
The study by the Immigration Policy Lab (IPL) from October 2025 now shows the apparent success of the job turbo. According to the evaluation, around 102,000 additional jobs have been taken up since the start of the program. The majority of these were refugees from Ukraine. Another positive aspect is that most of the jobs were subject to social security contributions and did not lead to a displacement into precarious employment.
It is still unclear how sustainable these effects can be. However, the results give hope and offer important approaches for further measures. The study also identifies weaknesses in the system. These include the lack of childcare and difficulties with the recognition of qualifications acquired abroad.
Success factors of the program
According to the IPL study, the dovetailing of different measures has contributed to the success of the Job Turbo. A high level of contact between the job center and participants, i.e. regular invitations and consultation appointments. Companies were also encouraged to play an active role in the process, to provide participants with further qualifications alongside their jobs and to employ people with a lower language level (A2/B1).
It goes without saying that language skills are an essential part of integration. This is why targeted language support measures were offered alongside work. According to the study, the model was particularly successful with people who already had an A2 language level - many of them were placed directly in jobs and were able to continue their language development in the workplace. The program also relied on sector-specific matching of employers, education and business stakeholders.
Challenges and stumbling blocks
The combination of these measures made the job turbo a success - albeit with limitations in some areas. The results show that men were integrated much more successfully than women. One key reason for this is the significantly higher household and care workload for women. If a lot of nursing and care work has to be done and there is a lack of suitable support services at the same time, the logical consequence of this is that refugee women find it more difficult to access the labor market. This applies to women in Germany in general, but is exacerbated in the case of refugees, as they generally have no social network that could compensate for such effects. For the same reason, there is an obstacle for women to participate in integration measures such as language courses, etc.
The recognition (or non-recognition) of qualifications acquired abroad is a problem for women and men alike. This is also a particular obstacle where well-trained specialists could enrich the labor market, but are prevented from doing so by the sluggish system.
For some companies, the lack of legal certainty when employing refugees is a major challenge, which also leads to fewer refugees being hired. In all of the points mentioned, politicians have a duty to create the best possible framework conditions, be it through the expansion of support services, unbureaucratic handling of foreign qualifications or educational work with regard to legal certainty.
Recommendations for companies
The Job Turbo study impressively demonstrates that targeted measures can significantly accelerate the integration of refugees into the labor market. In order for companies to fully exploit this potential, it is important to follow a few recommendations.
Establish an open recruitment culture & flexible entry criteria
Many refugees do not (yet) have perfect German language skills or formal recognition of their professional qualifications - but they do have a high level of motivation and potential. Companies should therefore scrutinize their requirements and adapt them accordingly. Entry with a basic language level can work if it is flanked by accompanying qualification offers.
Establish cooperation with public stakeholders & networks
A key success factor of the Job Turbo was the close cooperation between employers, job centers, language course providers, training providers and integration networks. It therefore makes sense for companies to network with the relevant bodies and seek exchange with the Federal Employment Agency, the regional job center or platforms such as the German Association for Personnel Management (DGFP).
Firmly anchoring training and development opportunities in the company
If you want to integrate refugees in the long term, you have to offer more than just an employment contract. It is crucial that language and specialist skills can be further developed - ideally alongside employment. Companies that rely on accompanying training, integration coaching or mentoring not only create more security for themselves, but also increase the prospects of staying. Development plans that are individually tailored to the needs of new employees can be an effective tool here.
Designing internal processes and onboarding in a targeted manner
Structured onboarding is important for all new employees - but even more so for refugees. Clear information on tasks, expectations and development opportunities provides orientation. Mentoring programs or sponsorships make it easier to get started and ensure faster integration into the team.
Success without consequences
The current political situation is jeopardizing the positive developments that have resulted from the Job Turbo. For financial reasons, the German government is no longer planning to leave Ukrainian refugees in the citizen's allowance system in future, but to switch them to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG). This would have far-reaching consequences: Less financial support, less access to language courses and qualifications and more difficult access to job placement. It would also increase the risk of more informal employment relationships (e.g. undeclared work). The integration progress achieved to date would not only be slowed down, but in some cases reversed - with consequences for society and the economy.
The Job Turbo is an example of impact-driven integration. Companies can use these findings to derive important recommendations for their own practice, regardless of the extent to which they can count on government support.
