Integration monitoring: update for 2021/2022 published

The Offenbach Integration Monitoring Report has now been updated with the data for 2021 and 2022. The report, which is compiled by the Integration Officer and the coordinator of the WIR program, is published every two years and presents current figures on the local integration situation. In addition to the composition of Offenbach's urban society, indicators such as labor force participation, identification with the state and society or case numbers of the local migration counseling services are also considered. The data is intended to serve as a guide for stakeholders from the state, administration, business and society when developing measures.

For example, the city currently has one of the highest proportions of people with a migration background among the independent cities in Germany, at 65.8 percent. This proportion has been rising continuously for years. Due to the war in Ukraine, for example, the number of Ukrainians in 2022 increased by 992 from 334 to 1326. The group of Germans without a migration background continues to decline and accounted for just over 34.26% of the total population in 2022.

Head of Integration Martin Wilhelm is aware of the opportunities and challenges that migration brings. "For integration to succeed and for society to benefit from immigration, we need to fulfill important tasks such as language support, guidance and orientation for immigrants as effectively as possible," says Wilhelm. "People come from different parts of the world with different backgrounds and world views. The process of integration is a task for society as a whole, which Offenbach supports intensively with many offices and services."

In Offenbach, migration has lost momentum as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, with the exception of immigrants from Germany. The rate of immigration of people from abroad rose sharply again in 2022. With 14,198 immigrants last year, it was almost as high as in 2016 with 14,260 immigrants.

Offenbach recorded the most immigration with 12,148 immigrants from Europe. Of these, 4,499 came from Germany. Many people move away again. No definite statement can be made about the reasons for this. The net migration, i.e. the number of people who were registered in Offenbach over the entire year, is calculated from the inflows and outflows. As of December 31, 2022, net migration amounted to 2,595 people. The largest balance is the age group of 25 to 65-year-olds with 1,877 people.

The dynamics created by people moving in, settling down and leaving have a profound effect on social life. To ensure that all residents can live well together, it is important to keep a close eye on these processes. With this motivation in mind, the city of Offenbach is continuing to develop its own local integration monitoring system and is making the results available to the public, politicians and the administration.

It is always important to bear in mind that integration is a very complex and dynamic social field. What is meant by integration and how this phenomenon is measured is often the subject of public debate. It will also be the task of future monitoring reports to consider, further develop and make measurable indicators that can paint a more complete picture of integration and participation processes in a diverse society and help to initiate decision-making processes for the orientation and implementation of targeted and successful integration work.