Hesse: Refugees from Ukraine cause the number of unemployed to rise

Significantly more people are unemployed in Hesse than a year ago.

Hesse: Refugees from Ukraine cause the number of unemployed to rise

Significantly more people are unemployed in Hesse than a year ago. Refugees from Ukraine are in the process of integrating into the labor market. But there are obstacles.

Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - The number of unemployed in Hesse rose slightly in February. As of February 13, 179,436 people were registered as unemployed, as the regional directorate of the Federal Employment Agency reported on Wednesday in Frankfurt. That was 767 more than a month earlier and 16,353 more than a year earlier. The unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month at 5.2 percent.

The main reason given for the sharp increase over the year was the arrival of numerous refugees from Ukraine. Director Frank Martin sees their integration but on the right track. According to current projections, around 9,700 people from Ukraine were already in a job subject to social security contributions in December, more than twice as many as a year earlier. Around 16,300 people from the Ukraine are currently registered as unemployed in Hessen and almost 10,000 are in integration courses.

According to Martin, the successful integration of the mostly female people into the labor market depends in particular on the childcare options for children and young people. "If we don't succeed, they will remain excluded from the labor market. That would be unfortunate, since many have qualified training or a degree." With 49,300 vacancies, Hessen's labor market is still receptive.

However, the training market with currently 27,400 vacancies and 22,130 applicants continues to cause concern. Too few young people opt for dual training, so there is a significant gap between supply and demand. The slump from the Corona period has not yet been made up for. "Although internships have been possible again for some time, the careers advisers are again offering advice on site in the schools and the careers information centers have opened, there is still no trend reversal," reports Martin.

The employers from the Association of Hessian Entrepreneurs' Associations (VhU) demanded more targeted efforts from the job centers to prevent many people from slipping into long-term unemployment. In addition to a lack of qualifications, health problems are a frequent obstacle to placement. "Especially in complex cases, the smooth cooperation of all actors is crucial, so that benefit recipients don't get left behind in the confusion of responsibilities," explained VhU Managing Director Dirk Pollert. "There must be no keeping in so-called one-euro jobs or qualifications in the dark."

The DGB Hessen-Thüringen called for more efforts to increase the labor force participation of women. Many part-time employees would like to work more, said DGB district chief Michael Rudolph. This requires a fairer division of care work between the sexes and expanded childcare facilities.