- Immigrant Times
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 26
Apprenticeship places in Germany: Employers discriminate against foreign-sounding names
A ‘Lukas Becker’ is almost twice as likely to be offered a place as a ‘Habiba Mahmoud’
A review by The Immigrant Times
In Germany, young people with an immigration background still find it harder to be offered an apprenticeship than their German school friends
October 2025: In a country where vocational training is a cornerstone of economic mobility, a July 2025 study from the University of Siegen delivers a sobering message: hiring discrimination remains entrenched in Germany’s apprenticeship system. Despite equal qualifications, applicants with foreign-sounding names, Turkish, Arab, Russian, or Hebrew, are significantly less likely to receive responses from employers than their German-named peers.
The study, led by Dr Dilara Wiemann and Professor Ekkehard Köhler, deployed over 50,000 fictitious applications to 700 businesses nationwide. Each application was identical in merit but varied in name to signal ethnic origin. The results were stark: while ‘Lukas Becker’ received responses from 67 out of every 100 employers, ‘Habiba Mahmoud’ heard back from just 36. Even top-performing students with accolades like Jugend forscht were not immune to bias.
This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the quiet erosion of opportunity. Germany’s skilled trades sector faces a demographic cliff, with fewer young people entering vocational paths. Yet the very youth who could fill this gap, children of immigrants, multilingual, ambitious, are being sidelined by assumptions about language, culture, or administrative burden.
The implications ripple beyond hiring. They touch on integration, social cohesion, and the promise of equal opportunity. If merit isn’t enough to open doors, what message does that send to the next generation?
We must ask: What does it mean to be ‘qualified in Germany today? And who gets to decide?
The University of Siegen’s findings demand more than reflection, they call for reform. Anti-discrimination training, anonymised application processes, and accountability mechanisms must become standard, not optional. Employers, educators, and policymakers must recognise that talent wears many names and that inclusion is not charity but necessity.
The study
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Siegen, used a randomised controlled correspondence trial (RCT) to measure how perceived ethnic background affects employer responses to apprenticeship inquiries. Over 50,000 fictitious applications were sent to 700 businesses across Germany between 2023 and 2025. Each application was identical in qualifications but varied in the applicant’s name to signal ethnic origin—German (e.g., Lukas Becker), Turkish (Yusuf Kaya), Arab (Habiba Mahmoud), Russian (Ivan Smirnov), and Hebrew (Ariel Rubinstein)
Key findings
Discrimination persists despite strong credentials. Applicants with foreign-sounding names received significantly fewer responses than those with German-sounding names, even when they had excellent grades or prestigious achievements like participation in Jugend forscht. (Youth researches) (2)
Response rates varied sharply by name:
Lukas Becker (German): 67 responses per 100 applications
Ivan Smirnov (Russian): 56
Ariel Rubinstein (Hebrew): 54
Yusuf Kaya (Turkish): 52
Habiba Mahmoud (Arab): 36
Statistical discrimination was evident.
Employers interpreted identical productivity signals differently based on perceived ethnicity, suggesting bias in how merit is assessed.
Regional and sectoral variation.
Discrimination was more pronounced in rural areas and certain industries, indicating that local context influences hiring behaviour.
Employer concerns included:
Language barriers
Cultural differences
Bureaucratic or legal complexities
Fear of administrative burden
* Jugend forscht / Youth researches is a German youth science competition. With more than 10,000 participants annually, it is the biggest youth science and technology competition in Europe. It was initiated in 1965 by Henri Nannen, then editor-in-chief of the Stern magazine.
Further reading: Teaching and training refugees in Europe || Teaching and training refugees in Germany || German Chancellor on immigration ||
COMMENTS
FOLLOW