Why Germany is experiencing a growing exodus
In parts of society, immigration is currently seen as the greatest threat to the social fabric since the Black Death. Right-wing populists and conservatives tirelessly warn of Germany being overrun by refugees and other welfare cases. Policymakers are scrambling to set literal and figurative boundaries. But in their tunnel vision toward the entrance, they fail to notice the growing congestion at the exit.
According to a study by labour market researchers, around a quarter of the roughly 10 million working-age immigrants in Germany are considering leaving. Who is thinking of leaving is as enlightening as it is alarming: refugees and those who came through family reunification show little inclination to return home. Much more mobile are the highly qualified and high earners – primarily from other EU countries or people with unlimited residence rights. Many of them soon move on, often to countries like the United States or Switzerland – classic immigration destinations that are anything but soft-touch welfare havens.
A hurdle race upon arrival
Given Germany’s long-standing complaints about a shortage of skilled labour, these findings are sobering. The criticisms are familiar – and remain unaddressed. A visit to the local registration office rarely radiates a culture of welcome. Furthermore, administrative processes move at a snail’s pace, and digital efficiency is nowhere to be found. Getting foreign degrees and professional qualifications recognised can feel like a bureaucratic obstacle course. And once migrants finally enter the German workforce, the high level of taxes and deductions often shakes the confidence of precisely those skilled professionals the country so desperately needs.
Learning from neighbors
Statistics suggest that Germany is making little headway in alleviating its skilled labour shortage. After years of growing immigration from EU countries, the net migration figures turned negative in 2024 for the first time. Both Germans and EU citizens are leaving the country, while the influx of asylum seekers – who must be supported – continues unabated. When the number of those being supported rises while the number of contributors declines, public acceptance of immigration is unlikely to grow. A stop sign for refugees addresses the wrong end of the issue. What’s missing is a welcome sign for skilled professionals.
