According to a new study by the employer‑centric Institute of the German Economy in Cologne, Iranian citizens in Germany are integrated into the labour market at a higher rate than many other nationalities. Of the roughly 162,000 Iranians living in Germany, 58.6 % are employed on social‑insurance‑based contracts-a figure that exceeds the employment rates for Afghans, Iraqis and Syrians, which range from 40 % to 44 %.
The study also highlights the strong educational background of Iranian workers. Forty‑three point three percent hold a university degree, compared with only 19.5 % of foreign employees from other countries. This higher level of education is reflected in the types of positions held: 73.1 % of Iranian employees work as skilled professionals and 31.7 % occupy specialist or expert roles, versus 62.7 % and 18.3 % for their non‑Iranian counterparts.
Comparable wage differences are evident as well. Iranians earn an average monthly salary of €3,528, while the average for foreign workers is €3,204. Female Iranians are also slightly better represented in the German workforce, making up 41 % of Iranian women in employment compared with 39 % of women from other foreign backgrounds.
The findings were derived from data supplied by the Federal Statistical Office, the Federal Employment Agency, and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.