Labor Market Integration of Women with Migrant Background: Baseline Findings from a Model Project in Germany

Abstract

To advance the integration of women with migrant background on the labor market, an innovative project was initiated in a mid-sized city in Germany in 2018. The four-year project is implemented by a team of female (social) workers and aided by coaches to support migrant women’s entry into the labor market and foster their social integration. Following an orientation phase, the women, who enter the program sequentially in cohorts of about 20, start apprenticeships, finish educational requirements, or participate in language courses before entering vocational training. The goal is to complete the training and to then enter the skilled labor market. This paper uses baseline survey data, which was collected as part of an ongoing formative evaluation of the project. Descriptive findings are presented on women’s (n=98) expectations for project participation, their demographic profiles, psychosocial stressors and resources, and status at the midpoint of the project. Furthermore, the role of coaches (n=27) is examined. Establishing initial profiles and gaining an understanding of the characteristics and experiences of women and coaches serves as the basis for the conceptual development of the project, as well as addressing gaps in the literature. Implications for project development and future analysis are discussed.