Is Germany Missing Out or Catching Up? Gender Inequality and the German Skilled Immigration Act

Germany’s Skilled Worker Immigration Act addresses labor shortages by targeting non-EU migrants. The literature emphasizes that such policies often overlook gender-specific challenges, reinforcing inequalities. Using the German Socio-Economic Panel (2013–2022), we reveal significant disadvantages for non-EU migrant women. We find that deskilling and the sexual division of paid and unpaid working time explain gender disparities in professional careers. Women migrating for work show lower disadvantages than other migrant women; however, they are predominantly young and without children. We advocate for gender-sensitive reforms to accompany migration laws, ensuring equitable labor market access for migrant women in Germany and especially those with children.