Bleak Statistics

Integration Minister Maria Böhmer described the statistics, based on data collected in 2005, as "dramatic." They show that only 23 percent of children of non-German origin embarked on an apprenticeship, compared to 57 percent of their native German counterparts.

Böhmer said the situation had worsened in comparison to the mid-1990s, when the figure was around 34 percent. She added that the continuation of the negative trend despite the recent economic upturn should be regarded as an "alarm signal."

And, some 40 percent of migrants had no professional qualifications at all. Immigrants from Italy, Greece and Turkey had the poorest records in this respect. Some 72 percent of Turkish immigrants had no job training at all.

Around one in five do not have any qualifications

The report also revealed that some 17.5 percent of children of non-German origin finish school without any educational qualifications. The risk of becoming unemployed is twice as high among migrants -- a fact Böhmer blamed chiefly on this lack of education and training.

The integration minister said that rather than encouraging the migration of skilled workers into Europe to ease labor shortages, Germany must focus on improving integration and training for its existing migrant population.

"We cannot afford to lose any talent," she stressed. According to the statistics, some 15 million people in Germany have immigrated since 1950 or have at least one immigrant parent. About 50 percent of them have German citizenship.

"We must significantly improve the educational situation of young migrants," she said.

Böhmer pointed to a series of measures included in the national integration plan, such as early language coaching in kindergartens and schools, ease of access to study grants for migrant teenagers and improved teacher training. "We need more teachers from a migrant background," she added.

The national integration plan was agreed in the summer at an integration summit attended by immigrant organizations, charities, business associations and representatives from various levels of government.

Is better education enough?

Free Democrat politician Sibylle Laurischk called the figures "shocking" and called for the introduction of national language tests for children starting kindergarden.

Sevim Dagdelen, a member of the Left Party, sounded a note of warning. "German language skills are not enough to safeguard against discrimination in the education system and against unemployment."

In her speech presenting the report, Böhmer also said that there had to be improved acceptance of qualifications gained abroad. She said there were some half a million foreigners in Germany with degrees, but who unable to work in their professions because their credentials were not recognized. "We are squandering potential here," she criticized.

The integration minister had some good news. The number of immigrants setting up their own businesses has almost doubled since the 1990s. Currently, immigrants own some 582,000 firms and employ some two million staff.