Occupational and Economic Mobility and Social Integration of Mediterranean Migrants in Germany

Foreigners of Mediterranean immigrant origin still occupy the lowerpositions in the German labour market. The employment profile is clearlydifferent from that of German wage earners and salaried employees. Resultsfrom the German Socio-Economic Panel Study show that 60% of this foreignpopulation was employed as unskilled or semi-skilled workers in 1993. Between1984 and 1993 their occupational mobility was relatively low. The situationof the second generation has clearly improved. To a small degree they evenfound access to attractive jobs in the service sector. But compared withGermans of the same age group their occupational success is limited. Thesocial situation of foreigners is characterised by increasing segregation.