AMS CEO Kopf: "We made three major mistakes in the merger process"
During an interview on the ZIB 2 program, Johannes Kopf, a member of the board of the Austrian Labor Market Service (AMS), acknowledged that the integration of refugees in Austria still poses a significant challenge. While about 35% of Syrians and 46% of Afghans have entered the labor market, he admitted that many asylum seekers are still outside the labor market, especially those who arrived after 2022. Unlike the wave of 2015, many newcomers came after long years in refugee camps with limited education, making their integration more difficult.
Despite these challenges, Kopf pointed to positive achievements. There are about 60,000 people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran working today in Austria, and many of them have integrated to the extent that they have obtained Austrian citizenship. However, he emphasized at the same time that about 20% of refugees have never been able to find work, and a large number of them are still "stuck at the station" regarding integration.
Kopf identified three fundamental mistakes made by Austria in its asylum policies: the first is the excessively long asylum procedures, which left people unemployed for long periods before they were allowed to enter the labor market. The second is the significant cuts in funding for integration programs made by Kurz's government and the Freedom Party (FPÖ) in 2018. The third mistake was the failure to distribute refugees evenly among the states, as today 75% of refugees live in Vienna, while other regions host only a few hundred. He emphasized that this concentration leaves many isolated in their communities and unable to practice the German language.
Language remains a major barrier. Even after 18 months of registering with the AMS, 30% of refugees do not speak German. Kopf warned that the absence of language courses, especially for women, will keep them marginalized. Refugee women, in particular, have much lower employment rates than men, and traditional roles often prevent them from entering the labor market. He emphasized that providing German courses for mothers is essential, as children's integration often goes through their mothers.
In conclusion, Kopf addressed the broader question of whether refugees can contribute to solving the labor shortage in Austria. He explained that more than 200 refugee doctors are currently working in Austrian hospitals, demonstrating the great potential. At the same time, a large number of newcomers have limited skills, making training essential. Kopf stated, "These people are here, and they are part of our community. Not integrating them will ultimately be more costly than integrating them. In my opinion, there is no alternative to integration."