BAMF publishes positive developments in vocational language courses

Vocational German language training remains one of the most important instruments for integrating immigrants into the German labor market in 2024. The current annual report on vocational language courses impressively demonstrates the significant growth of the system – both in terms of demand and supply. Over half a million course enrollments in the overall language program alone prove that language continues to be the crucial key to education, employment, and professional recognition .

Vocational language courses generally build upon integration courses and are aimed at people who have already reached a certain language level and wish to further develop it specifically for the job market. They usually start at level B1 and go up to C2. At the same time, they remain accessible to participants who have not reached level B1 or who have not had access to integration courses.

Job turbo as a driving force of development

A key driver of the strong growth in 2024 was the German government's so-called "Job Turbo" initiative . The aim of this measure is to significantly accelerate labor market integration after the acquisition of basic language skills and to shift further language learning more towards employment. The impact is clearly evident in the figures: course enrollments rose from around 156,000 in 2023 to over 190,000 in 2024. Particularly striking is the sharp increase among participants who were already employed, whose number rose from approximately 15,000 to almost 25,000 within a single year.

In parallel, the number of part-time courses also increased significantly. While around 1,450 part-time courses were started in 2023, this number had risen to almost 2,400 by 2024. This shows that the system is increasingly being adapted to the reality of working participants.

New course formats for specific professional requirements

In 2024, a new, highly practical course format was introduced: the Job-Based Vocational Language Course . These courses are directly tailored to the language requirements of specific workplaces and can take place on-site, digitally, or in small groups. They offer flexible scheduling, including times outside of regular business hours, and allow for both group instruction and individual language coaching. In its first year alone, over 250 Job-Based Vocational Language Courses were launched with more than 1,700 participants – including in rural areas and across diverse sectors such as healthcare, technology, and office communication.

Successful audits and increasing quality

Since the introduction of the standardized "German for the Workplace" certificate exams in 2022, significant improvements in quality have been evident . While around 40 percent of participants reached the target language level in 2022, this figure had already risen to 56 percent by 2024. This development underscores the importance of the interplay between qualified teachers, specially developed exam formats, and tailored course concepts. The so-called vocational language courses with practical experience have been further developed, particularly for participants with lower levels of education. These courses combine language instruction with hands-on learning in workshops and were significantly simplified organizationally in 2024 to facilitate access for course providers.

Who participates in the courses?

The participant structure of vocational language courses shows clear trends. Ukrainian nationals again constituted the largest group in 2024, at around 42 percent. Overall, the proportion of women continued to rise, reaching approximately 67 percent with over 128,000 participants. The very high proportion of women among Ukrainian participants, at around 79 percent, is particularly striking. In terms of age, the working-age group between 25 and 45 years old continues to dominate. At the same time, a growing proportion of older participants can also be observed, demonstrating that vocational language training is increasingly being used regardless of age.

Courses for academic healthcare professions undergoing the recognition process saw particularly dynamic growth in 2024. With over 5,500 course enrollments, a new record high was reached. Courses for other healthcare professions also continued to increase. This development underscores the crucial role that vocational language courses play in the immigration of skilled workers and the rapid integration of qualified migrants into systemically important professions.

Conclusion: Vocational language courses as the foundation for successful migration

The 2024 report clearly shows that vocational language courses are no longer a marginal tool, but a central foundation for labor market integration. The increasing number of participants, the growing diversity of course formats, and the measurably improved exam results demonstrate that the system is becoming increasingly professionalized, both in terms of content and organization. For migrants, this means better opportunities for recognition of their qualifications, employment, and career advancement. For the German labor market, well-organized vocational language courses are an indispensable prerequisite for effectively addressing the skills shortage.