Integrating Refugees in the Rhine-Neckar-Region: Initial Evidence from an Inclusive Soccer Project

The study analyses a survey which has been conducted in July 2016 in the German Rhine-Neckar region among a group of male refugees who participate in a small inclusive soccer project or were part of a control group. The main findings may be summarized as follows. First, the total group of 81 responding male asylum seekers is on average 23 years old, has on average spent nearly nine years in education and already accumulated five years of work experience in their home countries or on their way to Germany. They report on average a good health status and are fairly optimistic about finding work in Germany. However, although they are on average already nine months in Germany only 36 percent were searching for a job, while 14 percent report that they were working at the time of the survey. Thus, it seems that the responding refugees are equipped with a good health, reasonable work experience and motivation, although they report on average rather low levels of education. 28 survey participants engaged in the soccer project. Most of them indicated that they would like to participate more frequently. These refugees report that they visit German natives in their homes more often and that they master speaking German better compared to the control groups, which hints at positive short run effects.

Kolb, Michael, Martin Lange, Friedhelm Pfeiffer and Gerard J. van den Berg (2016), Integrating Refugees in the Rhine-Neckar-Region: Initial Evidence from an Inclusive Soccer Project, IWH und ZEW, Mannheim