In Hesse, Germany, there is a concerning rise in the number of young workers who do not possess vocational or academic qualifications, with a notable emphasis on foreign nationals. Between 2014 and 2024, nearly two-thirds of the increase in unqualified young workers is attributed to males, of whom about half are foreigners. This highlights a growing trend where young foreign men, particularly those who may have received training in their home countries, find themselves working without proper recognition of their qualifications in Germany.

The statistics reveal that the number of young foreign men without vocational qualifications has surged to more than two and a half times the level seen in 2014. In comparison, while there is still a higher absolute number of young German men without qualifications, their proportion has decreased from 72% in 2014 to 61.4% in 2024. This shift indicates not only an increase in the challenges faced by foreign workers but also a broader societal issue concerning integration and the recognition of foreign qualifications within the German labor market.

Moreover, the situation for young women is somewhat different, with a lesser increase noted among females, amounting to about 24,600 from 2014 to 2024. Foreign women constitute a modest share of this growth, at around 28.5%. This discrepancy between male and female young workers without qualifications may shed light on varying trends in employment and training opportunities for different demographics, prompting discussions on how to better support young foreigners in achieving recognition of their skills and qualifications in Germany.