Governments continue to face challenges integrating refugees into the local labor market, and many past interventions have shown limited impact. This study examines the Job-Turbo program, a large-scale initiative launched by the German government in 2023 to accelerate employment among refugees—primarily individuals from Ukraine and eight other major countries of origin. Using monthly administrative panel data from Germany’s network of public employment service offices and a difference-in-differences design, we find that the program significantly increased both caseworker-refugee contact and job placements. Among Ukrainian refugees, the exit-to-job rate nearly doubled; other refugee groups also saw meaningful gains. Effects were broad-based—spanning demographic subgroups, unemployment durations, skill levels, regions, and local labor market conditions—and concentrated in regular, unsubsidized employment. The program also increased the rate and share of sustained job placements, consistent with improved match quality. We find no evidence of negative spillovers for German job seekers. For other immigrants, small declines in low-skilled job placements appear in areas with high refugee density, though magnitudes are limited. Overall, the results offer insights for governments responding to current and future displacement crises. They indicate that intensified job search assistance—implemented at scale through existing public employment infrastructure—can meaningfully improve refugee labor market outcomes, even amid significant arrivals.

2025