Integration at Work

Project Website

Project Description

Aims and Central Research Question

We explore workplace integration of migrant apprentices in the short and longer term. In the short term, we look into social acceptance, acculturation, identification and perceived fit, and job performance in the apprenticeship workplace. In the long term, we are interested in the successful completion of apprenticeships and in follow-up employment contracts. To explain these outcomes, we analyze how they are influenced by organizational factors, such as recruitment processes and socialization tactics, individual characteristics such as language skills and social ties, and school-related factors like coaching and business cooperation programs.

Background

How well migrants are integrated into a society is in no small way dependent on labor market integration. In Germany, increased vocational training programs enable standardized qualification and theoretically support a smooth transition into stable employment for migrants. Nevertheless, apprentices with migrant backgrounds drop out from vocational training much more often than German apprentices, indicating problems with their integration. While the importance of individual characteristics and of macro-societal factors for these processes is well-recognized in the literature, the role of organizations has been neglected. To fill this gap, we will focus on the role of organizations’ policies for the short- and long-term integration of immigrant apprentices.

Methods

We will collect longitudinal data covering the whole three-year vocational training period of 1.300 immigrant apprentices and a comparable control group of native-born peers. Apprentices will answer short weekly surveys during the first 12 weeks, followed by surveys in three-month intervals until the end of their apprenticeship. To better understand the organizational conditions of successful and failed workplace integration of immigrant employees, the apprentice surveys will be complemented by surveys of direct supervisors and HR representatives.

Disciplines

Management, Sociology, Organization Studies, Educational Research

Starting Date

1 October 2019

Project Partners

DIHK - Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (German Chambers of Commerce and Industry)

The Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag, DIHK) is the central organisation for 79 Chambers of Commerce and Industry, CCI (Industrie- und Handelskammern, IHKs) in Germany. Find more information about DIHK here.

ZDH - Zentralverbund des Deutschen Handwerks (German Confederation of Skilled Crafts)

The ZDH is one of the central organizations of German industry and also cooperates with partner associations in the Mittelstand working group. It represents the overall interests of the skilled crafts sector vis-à-vis the Bundestag, the Federal Government and other central authorities, the European Union and international organisations. Find more information about ZDH here.

Literature

Academic Publications

Korman, B. A., Kunze, F., Koos, S. (2023). How Political Context Affects Immigrants’ Social Contact Dynamics and Mental Health at Work. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2023, No. 1, p. 12401). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.

Kunze, Florian et al. (2023): Wie gelingt die Integration junger Zugewanderter in den Arbeitsmarkt? Das Integration@Work-Projekt. Policy Paper Nr. 13; 23. November 2023.

Maué, E., Findeisen, S., Schumann, S. (2023). Development, predictors, and effects of trainees’ organizational identification during their first year of vocational education and training. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1148251

Outreach

Suedduetsche Zeitung (2023): Woran Zugewanderte auf dem Arbeitsmarkt scheitern

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (2023): Junge Zugewanderte brechen häufiger ihre Ausbildung ab

Karla (2022): Irgendwann integriert im Arbeitsmarkt

CSR Magazin (2020): Die betriebliche Integration von Geflüchteten, ein Beitrag von Prof. Dr. Sebastian Koos und Anna Apostolidou

Crossmedia Contributions

Podcast (2023): Wie attraktiv ist Deutschland für International Talents? Professor Kunze beim Inside Germany Podcast

Podcast (2023): Professor Kunze bei Professo Süß über die Integration von Migrant:innen

Article in In_equality - Apostolidou, Kormann, Kunze (2022): “Integration am Arbeitsplatz, Arbeitserfahrugen von Migrant*innen" (In_equality Ausgabe 04_2022, Seiten 42-45)

Article in Unikon (2022): “Aller Anfang ist schwer – für manche schwerer” (unikon Ausgabe 76, Seiten 44-47)

Policy Paper - Kunze, Florian et al. (2023): Wie gelingt die Integration junger Zugewanderter in den Arbeitsmarkt? Das Integration@Work-Projekt (Policy Paper Nr. 13; 23. November 2023)

References

Bartley, T., Koos, S., Hiram, S., Gustavo, S., & Summers, N. (2015). Looking behind the label: Global industries and the conscientious consumer. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Boehm, S. A., Kunze, F., & Bruch, H. (2014). Spotlight on age-diversity climate: The impact of age-inclusive HR practices on firm-level outcomes. Personnel Psychology, 67(3), 667-704.

Diehl C., Friedrich, M., & Hall, A. (2009). Jugendliche ausländischer Herkunft beim Übergang in die Berufsausbildung: Vom Wollen, Können und Dürfen. Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 38(1), 48-67.

Diehl, C., & Granato, N. (2018). Chapter 3. Intergenerational inequalities in the education system and the labour market for native-born children of immigrants from Turkey and the former Yugoslavia. In OECD, Catching Up? Country Studies on Intergenerational Mobility and Children of Immigrants (pp. 71-92). Paris: OECD Publishing.

Diehl, C., Hunkler, C., & Kristen, C. (Eds.) (2016). Ethnische Ungleichheiten im Bildungsverlauf. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

Forsblom, L., Negrini, L., Gurtner, J.-L. & Schumann, S. (2016). Dropouts in Swiss vocational education and the effect of training companies' trainee selection methods. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 68(04), 399-415.

Jüttler, M., Jüttler, A., Eberle, F. & Schumann, S. (2016). Work or university? Economic competencies and educational aspirations of trainees with hybrid qualifications in Switzerland. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 8(6), 1-26.

Koos, S. (2012). The institutional embeddedness of social responsibility: a multilevel analysis of smaller firms’ civic engagement in Western Europe. Socio-Economic Review, 10(1), 135-162.

Koos, S., & Seibel, V. (in press). Solidarity with refugees across Europe. A comparative analysis of public support for helping forced migrants. European Societies.

Kunze, F., Boehm, S. A., & Bruch, H. (2011). Age diversity, age discrimination climate and performance consequences – a cross organizational study. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 32(2), 264-290.

Kunze, F., Boehm, S. A., & Bruch, H. (2013). Organizational performance consequences of age diversity: Inspecting the role of diversity-friendly HR policies and top managers’ negative age stereotypes. Journal of Management Studies, 50(3), 413-442.

Maué, E., Schumann, S. & Diehl, C. (2018). Bildungshintergrund und Bildungspläne geflüchteter Jugendlicher im System der beruflichen Bildung. In E. Wittmann, D. Frommberger & B. Ziegler (Eds.), Jahrbuch der berufs- und wirtschaftspädagogischen Forschung (pp. 137 - 148). Opladen: Barbara Budrich.

Negrini, L., Forsblom, L., Gurtner, J.-L. & Schumann, S. (2016). Is there a Relationship between Training Quality and Premature Contract Terminations in VET? Vocations and Learning, 9(3). 361-378.

Neuenschwander, M., Hofmann, J., Jüttler, A. & Schumann, S. (2018). Professional Desires and Career Decisions: Effects of Professional Interests, Role Models, and Internship in Lower Secondary School. International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training, 5(3), pp. 226 – 243.

Reinwald, M., & Kunze F. (2020). Being Different, Being Absent? A Dynamic Perspective on Demographic Dissimilarity and Absenteeism in Blue-Collar Teams. Academy of Management Journal.