Why a quarter of immigrants in Germany are thinking of leaving
The study, which looked at data from a survey of around 50,000 immigrants, suggests that three percent of immigrants in Germany (300,000 people) already have concrete plans to leave.
Around 12 percent (or 1.2 million people), on the other hand, currently plan to stay in the country temporarily, and a further 30 percent (or 3 million people) are undecided.
A narrow majority of Germany's immigrant population, at around 57 percent, said they plan to stay permanently.
The Local caught up with Dr. Katia Gallegos Torres, an IAB researcher who worked on the study, to ask why some immigrants are opting-out of settling in Germany long-term and what the country's governing authorities can do about it.
Which factors push immigrants out of Germany?
According to the study, the main reasons some immigrants want to leave Germany include;
political dissatisfaction
,
discrimination
in the workplace (and during interactions with authorities), the high tax burden, and
bureaucratic obstacles
.
Family considerations and better economic prospects in other countries were also cited as reasons for contemplating emigration.
Commenting on the findings, Gallegos Torres emphasized that social integration plays a decisive role in whether or not immigrants remain in a country.
'A strong subjective feeling of being welcome, emotional ties to Germany, and low perceptions of discrimination reduce the likelihood of emigration considerations and plans,' she told The Local.
READ ALSO:
What are your responsibilities as a foreign resident in Germany?
One key finding of the survey is that 'well-integrated' migrants are more likely to consider leaving or already have concrete plans to do so. These are people who moved to Germany to work or study, and who tend to be better educated, more economically successful, and often have a better command of the German language.
'We know from migration research that people with higher levels of education are more mobile,' explained Gallegos Torres.
'However, in addition to higher mobility, there may be structural reasons driving this trend, such as the political situation in Germany.'
Advertisement
Other IAB
studies
have shown that foreign workers of all skill levels are more likely to move away from regions with more right-wing extremist attitudes.
The fact that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now the largest opposition party in Germany, along with recent moves by the federal government to take a harder line on migration, may well have heightened anxieties among immigrant communities.
READ ALSO:
'A fifth of voters hate me' - How do foreigners in Germany feel about far-right surge?
What is the government doing to retain skilled workers?
Attracting migrants to Germany is one well-known challenge facing the German government, but persuading them to stay in the country is another.
'A sustainable migration policy requires more than simply promoting immigration – it is equally important to consider the possibility of people leaving the country," Gallegos Torres said.
READ ALSO:
Are significantly more skilled workers moving to Germany?
Asked what the government can do to convince working immigrants to stay in Germany for the long-term, Gallegos Torres said her research has highlighted a number of areas where improvements could be made.
'The findings of the survey provide important pointers in this regard, and underscore the urgent need to remove structural barriers, accelerate and simplify migration and administrative processes, strengthen social integration, and actively promote social openness.'
Advertisement
She cited a federal initiative to create a "digital work and stay agency" as a solid step toward addressing some of those issues.
The agency "will serve as a central IT platform to accelerate processes related to labour migration and the recognition of professional qualifications" Gallegos Torres explained.
Additional concrete measures could include offering tax incentives, promoting local integration programs, and introducing measures to make it easier for the partners and children of immigrants to gain entry to Germany.
OPINION:
If Germany is to thrive it must help foreigners feel they belong here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
2 hours ago
- DW
EU-US trade deal: European leaders back plan after tensions – DW – 07/28/2025
Germany's Friedrich Merz welcomes US-EU trade pact, saying it avoids "needless escalation in transatlantic trade relations." While specifics are yet to be disclosed, deal marks a pivotal moment following tensions. The US and EU have announced a trade deal that would set tariffs at 15% for European goods, including automobiles. "This is the biggest deal ever made," Trump said, lauding EU plans to dramatically increase its purchases of US energy and military equipment as part of the deal. Trump said the tariff rate would apply to "automobiles and everything else" but not pharmaceuticals — top good the US imported from the EU last year — and metals. The baseline 15% tariff will still be seen by many in Europe as too high, compared with Europe's initial hopes to secure a zero-for-zero tariff the US and European Union reached a trade deal, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof thanked the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her "determined efforts to secure the best possible outcome for our businesses and consumers." "Of course, no tariffs would have been better, but this agreement provides more clarity for our businesses and brings more market stability," Schoof posted on X. He added that the Netherlands' annual goods exports to the US are worth over €50 billion ($58 billion). German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the trade agreement between the European Union and the US which will see a 15% tariff on EU goods entering the US. "We have thus managed to preserve our fundamental interests, even if I would have wished for more relief in transatlantic trade," Merz said ina government statement issued on Sunday evening. The no-deal scenario would have "hit the export-oriented German economy hard," according to Merz. He added that this applied in particular to the automotive industry, where the current tariffs of 27.5% have been almost halved. The US is Germany's main trading partner. The EU and US have struck a trade deal, with both sides touting the enormity of the deal after months of tensions over the impact of tariffs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, describing US President Donald Trump as a tough negotiator, said the deal "will bring stability." She later told reporters that the tariff level on cars was "the best we could get." Though specifics are yet to be revealed, she also told reporters that bilateral tariff exemptions had been agreed on for a number of "strategic products" like all aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, generic pharmaceuticals and critical raw materials.
Int'l Business Times
5 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
What We Know So Far About The EU-US Trade Deal
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen clinched an agreement Sunday with US President Donald Trump to avoid crippling tariffs from hitting the bloc, with both leaders hailing a "good deal". The stakes were high with a looming August 1 deadline and $1.9 trillion transatlantic trading relationship on the line. Many European businesses will breathe a sigh of relief after the leaders agreed the 27-country bloc will face a baseline levy of 15 percent instead of a threatened 30 percent -- but the deal will not satisfy everyone. Here is what we know so far: Both sides confirmed there will be a 15-percent across-the-board rate on a majority of EU goods -- the same level secured by Japan this month -- with bilateral tariff exemptions on some products. The deal will bring relief for the bloc's auto sector, employing around 13 million people -- and hit by Trump with 25-percent tariffs, on top of a pre-existing 2.5 percent. "Obviously, it is good news for the car industry. So Germany will be happy. And all the EU members with auto supply chains, they go from 27.5 to 15 percent," said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute For International Economics. A 15-percent levy will remain "costly" for German automakers, "but it is manageable", said trade geopolitics expert Elvire Fabry at the Jacques Delors Institute. While 15 percent is much higher than pre-existing US tariffs on European goods -- averaging 4.8 percent -- it mirrors the status quo, with companies currently facing an additional flat rate of 10 percent imposed by Trump since April. The EU also committed to buy $750 billion of liquefied natural gas, oil and nuclear fuels from the United States -- split equally over three years -- to replace Russian energy sources. And it will pour $600 billion more in additional investments in the United States. Trump said EU countries -- which recently pledged to ramp up their defence spending within NATO -- would be purchasing "hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of military equipment". Von der Leyen said the 15-percent rate applied across most sectors, including semiconductors and pharmaceuticals -- a critical export for Ireland, which the bloc has sought to protect. Trump in April launched probes that could lead to significantly steeper tariffs on the two key sectors, warning this month he could slap 200-percent levies on drugs. Brussels and Washington agreed a bilateral tariff exemption for key goods including aircraft, certain chemicals, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products and critical raw materials, von der Leyen said. The EU currently faces 50-percent tariffs on its steel exports to the United States, but von der Leyen said a compromise on the metal had been reached with Trump. "Between us, tariffs will be cut and a quota system will be put in place," she said. It is understood that European steel would be hit with 50-percent levies only after a certain amount of the metal arrived in the United States, but no details were initially provided on the mechanism. The deal needs to be approved by EU member states, whose ambassadors will meet first thing Monday morning for a debrief from the European Commission. And there are still technical talks to come, since the agreement needs to be fully fleshed out. Von der Leyen described the deal as a "framework" agreement. "Details have to be sorted out, and that will happen over the next weeks," she said. In particular, she said there has yet to be a final decision on alcohol, critical since France and The Netherlands have been pushing for carve-outs for wine and beer respectively. "This is something which has to be sorted out in the next days," von der Leyen said.
DW
a day ago
- DW
Berlin Pride marchers warn of growing homophobia – DW – 07/26/2025
In Berlin, tens of thousands of people celebrated Christopher Street Day, the German capital's annual Pride parade. This year's event was overshadowed by Germany's new conservative government deciding not to raise the rainbow flag over the parliament building.
