Family Reunification: Challenges in German Language Acquisition and Employment Among Asylum Seekers

A recent research report from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), commissioned by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), reveals significant challenges faced by family members of refugees seeking to integrate into Austrian society. The study analyzes data from 12,500 asylum seekers and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Austria, including 2,500 family reunification cases surveyed between 2018 and 2024.

The findings indicate that family members who join asylum seekers require more time to integrate compared to those who applied for asylum directly in Austria. Specifically, in the initial years following their arrival, these individuals are less likely to be employed and progress more slowly in learning the German language.

Among the surveyed family members, women constitute 46%, with 42% being minors at the time of reunification. Additionally, 82% of the women who joined their families are married, in contrast to 57% of those who applied for asylum directly. A notable percentage of these women report being unemployed and living with dependent children, with an unemployment rate of 34% compared to 30% for women who applied for asylum directly. The employment participation rate for the reunified women stands at 22%, which is lower than the 28% of women who were original applicants. In the first three years after arriving, only 8% of the reunified women are employed, compared to 19% of the women who applied directly.

The report also highlights that women arriving through family reunification tend to remain within their own community and often uphold traditional gender roles from their home countries. In contrast, women who came as direct asylum applicants report more frequent interactions with Austrians.

Young men who arrived as minors through family reunification exhibit significantly lower employment rates than their peers who applied for asylum directly. At the time of the survey, only 41% of the reunified young men were employed, whereas 57% of the original applicants were employed. This disparity is particularly pronounced among Syrian reunified individuals, where only 34% were employed compared to 48% of original applicants. Additionally, 38% of the reunified youth are in vocational training, while original applicants have a higher employment rate of 54% compared to the 38% of young reunified individuals.

In terms of language acquisition, reunified women are learning German at a slower pace compared to those who directly applied for asylum. The study indicates that reunified women are less likely to participate in German courses than their direct counterparts. However, their language skills improve over time, with half of both groups rating their German proficiency as good or very good after five years. Young refugees who arrived as minors generally report better German language skills than adults, with a significant number of young asylum seekers claiming to speak German well or very well.

The ÖIF plays a crucial role in facilitating the integration of refugees and displaced persons in Austria. It serves as a key resource for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. In the previous year, the ÖIF provided a record 67,500 places in German language courses and conducted around 80,000 integration examinations. The integration centers across all Austrian state capitals hosted approximately 230,000 consultations. To enhance accessibility, the ÖIF offers German courses during off-peak hours and weekends, as well as a range of online language learning resources to support refugees and migrants in achieving rapid employment alongside their language studies. Additionally, the ÖIF women's centers provide a wide array of multilingual seminars, consultations, and support services focusing on career opportunities, education, health, family matters, and violence prevention.