Refused Employment in Germany Due to a ‘Non-German’ Surname — Study

In Germany, your name and surname can determine your fate on the job market. A recent study by the University of Siegen revealed that applicants with “German-sounding” names are far more likely to receive positive responses from employers. Even excellent school grades and active community involvement cannot offset this bias. This was reported by Der Spiegel, citing a study conducted at the University of Siegen.

“Lukas” vs. “Habiba”

Over three years (2022–2025), researchers sent about 50,000 fictional résumés to German companies. The only difference between them was the candidate’s name and surname. The results were shocking:

The hypothetical “Lukas Becker” received an average of 67 responses for every 100 applications sent.

“Ivan Smirnov” received only 56 responses.

“Ariel Rubinstein” received 54 responses.

“Yusuf Kaya” received 52 responses.

And the worst result was for “Habiba Mahmoud” — only 36 responses per 100 applications.

In other words, a candidate with a name that sounds “German” had nearly double the chance of receiving a response compared to an applicant with a “foreign” name.

Economist Dilara Wiemann from the University of Siegen calls this situation a “catastrophe.” In her opinion, companies are missing out on qualified employees, and young people are being denied the opportunity to realize their potential.

After surveying 772 companies, it turned out that employers are most afraid of language barriers, cultural distance, problems with documents (residence permits), and bureaucracy. These fears are most pronounced in small companies, especially in the skilled trades, and in rural areas.

As noted by Tetyana Muehlen, CEO of the recruiting project NewLife Job, which assists Ukrainians with job placement in Germany, she confirms that Ukrainians often also face discrimination because of their surnames. Even despite their high skills and experience, potential employers are inclined to favour candidates with names more familiar to Germany.

This situation forces us to reflect on how open the German labor market is to international specialists and how long it will ignore qualified candidates who are screened out by only one thing—their origin, indicated in their name.

Recently, we reported on how artificial intelligence is transforming the job market. A new startup now enables employers and job seekers to communicate without language barriers.