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Integration miracle in Munich: Refugees conquer the job market!
Munich promotes the integration of refugees through language courses and apprenticeships. Success stories and challenges in focus.
Integration miracle in Munich: Refugees conquer the job market!
In Munich there are numerous stories of refugees who were able to successfully integrate into society. An example of this is 43-year-old Monday Ndubuisi from Nigeria, who came to Germany in 2015. His asylum application was processed by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) for six years. He used this long waiting time to learn German intensively. He took part in language courses, completed an internship and, in 2018, found a permanent position at the Freisinger Hof in Munich South German newspaper reported.
Although his asylum application was rejected in 2021, Ndubuisi was not discouraged. He was encouraged to start training in the hotel industry in order to be able to stay as a “tolerated person”. He successfully completed this and now works as a catering specialist. “I want to stay in Munich and contribute something,” is how he describes his motivation. The urban integration policy, which is pursued regardless of the prospect of staying, is showing initial successes, explained social affairs officer Dorothee Schiwy (SPD).
Integration measures in the city
The city of Munich offers a variety of integration measures. In the current year, around 1,700 places are available in various language courses, and the city budget earmarks 9.5 million euros annually for integration measures, including two million euros for language courses. In August 2023, 2,000 training positions were unfilled in Munich, which opens up opportunities for many motivated refugees. Last year, 443 people with a refugee history signed a training contract with the IHK and the Chamber of Crafts.
Another success story is that of 31-year-old Beatrice Nanvubya from Uganda, who came to Germany in 2020 and completed training as a dental assistant. She is currently on parental leave and is taking a German course to prepare for her return to work. “Around two-thirds of the refugees who arrived in 2015 found jobs,” according to city authorities. The success rate of the language courses is between 60 and 90 percent, which speaks for the effectiveness of the integration offers.
Current challenges and support
However, there are also challenges to overcome. In June 2025, around 10,000 refugees were registered in Munich, and the employment agency recorded over 5,700 “unemployed people in the context of refugee migration” in August. 27-year-old Mohammed Sharif Ziaie from Afghanistan is an example of rapid integration: He came to Germany in 2023, worked as a janitor and barista and began training as an office clerk after his asylum application was accepted in April 2025. Nevertheless, he waited a long time for a place in the BAMF's integration course.
Access to integration courses is of great importance for many asylum seekers and tolerated persons. According to the BAMF website Both asylum seekers with a residence permit and tolerated persons have the opportunity to take part in integration and language courses. These programs are free, but there is a lot of pressure to register quickly if you are required to participate.
Overall, it can be seen that an active integration policy is being pursued in Munich, which makes it easier for refugees to arrive. The experiences of people like Monday Ndubuisi are a source of hope and prove that with the right support, integration can be successful - true to the motto: “Strong together in Munich”.