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Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Integration to emigration: Why do migrants leave Germany?
"Everything that brought me to Germany was no longer there, and at some point I thought, that's enough — I don't want my children, if I ever have any, to grow up in this country." Giannis N, who preferred not to give his last name, left the Greek island of Samos at the age of 18 to study civil engineering in Germany. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was drawn to Germany due to its strong reputation for offering equal opportunities and upholding social justice. In 2020, with a master's degree in hand, he decided to return to his homeland after 16 years. He worked in the western German city of Essen as a project manager in the private sector and later as a civil engineer building bridges in the public sector, before eventually trying his luck as a freelancer. "I did everything I could to build a life there, but I kept running into barriers," the now 39-year-old told DW. He recalled one striking example: "I was working on a construction site, and the client refused to pay the final invoice — over 100,000 euros," he said. "His response was: 'I won't let you get rich here in Germany.'" Giannis said it was a clear expression of resentment toward his foreign background. For him, it was the feeling of never truly being accepted that ultimately led him to leave. Giannis finally made the move after realizing that, no matter how well integrated he was, he would always be seen as "the Greek." "First you're the lazy Greek at university, then the corrupt Greek at work. I'm proud to be Greek — but the mindset behind it eventually became toxic for me," he said. 25 percent of migrants think of leaving Germany The very barriers Giannis N faced in Germany are echoed in a new study published by the Institute for Employment Research. Based on a survey of 50,000 migrants who moved to Germany between the ages of 18 and 65, the study found that one in four was considering leaving. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Asylum-seekers, who do not yet have recognized residence status in Germany, were excluded from the study. The survey, carried out between December 2024 and April 2025, showed that those most likely to leave are highly educated, successful and well-integrated — the very people Germany needs most. According to the study, intentions to emigrate from Germany are "the result of a complex interplay of individual characteristics, social integration, economic [reasons], and perceived societal acceptance." Respondents also cited family, political dissatisfaction, high taxes and bureaucracy as reasons for wanting to leave. Just over a quarter of people living in Germany have a migration background. Around 6.5 million people have come to the country since 2015 alone, many of them Syrians and Ukrainians. Without German skills, you live 'like a ghost' Utku Sen, a 33-year-old cybersecurity engineer, also left Germany after three years — driven by a similar sense of exclusion. Describing his first year in Berlin as "a honeymoon," Sen told DW he later realized how tough life could be for a newcomer without strong German skills. "As a Turkish person, I always felt like a second-class citizen. I thought becoming part of the German community would take decades — maybe it would never happen at all," he said. Soon after posting a YouTube video in Turkish about everyday discrimination in Germany — which drew nearly half a million views — Sen moved to London. In the video, he compared life in Germany to ' character in "The Sixth Sense": "There is a life out there apart from you, and you don't belong to it. You wander around it like a ghost. Other people aren't even aware that you exist, and you can't connect with them either," he said. Sen said being able to communicate in English made his life much easier in London. "Unlike Germany, British people are generally more open to and accepting of foreigners and different cultures. I haven't experienced any discrimination here. This has made me feel like a part of society and has increased my love for it," he said. Fluent German doesn't always help According to Kalina Velikova of Bulgaria, even speaking the language fluently doesn't necessarily break down the barriers in Germany. Velikova, 35, who spent nine years in Bonn studying and working in social work, said she first felt excluded during her university years — despite speaking perfect German. "I'll never forget how long it took people to let me in — even just as a fellow student. I'd talk to someone one day, and the next, they'd act like they didn't know me. That just doesn't happen where I come from," she said. Over time, the constant sense of social distance began to affect her. "I started becoming colder. I felt like I was developing an allergy to Germany — and I didn't want that." In 2021, Velikova left Bonn for Sofia, where she now works as a project manager. "Of course, there are also daily struggles here," she said. "But overall, my quality of life has improved — even though I earn less and work more." Germany walks 'a very fine line' on migration For economist Christian Dustmann, director of the Rockwool Foundation Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work in Berlin, language remains a key factor in integration. He emphasized that learning German is essential — not just for the labor market and businesses, but for migrants themselves. At the same time, Dustmann argued that the perception of an unwelcoming atmosphere is not unique to Germany. "If you did that [survey] in the UK, responses would probably not be all that different from what you hear in Germany," he said. Dustmann also noted that the more immigrants a country receives, the more concerns arise among the resident population. "That may lead to a culture which some immigrants perceive as unwelcoming," he said. A 2024 study by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that public concern about migration in Germany is on the rise — a trend mirrored by the growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which capitalized on migration anxieties in Germany's February 2025 election, where it became the second-strongest party. Many people in Germany are increasingly worried about potential negative consequences of migrants coming to Germany, such as rising costs for the welfare state, housing shortages in urban areas, and growing challenges within the school system. In Dustmann's view, "politics has to walk a very fine line — between not overstretching the resident population, which then also gives space for right-wing populist parties, and at the same time being welcoming to newcomers who are also important parts of the economy and society." Beyond policy, cultural change is needed While politics must balance social cohesion and openness, Anastasios Penolidis believes real change goes deeper. The refugee camp field manager, who moved to Germany seven years ago, said educating the broader society is essential to addressing the challenges migrants face. "More political and social education, new institutions to combat phenomena like racism and lower taxes for low-income earners," he said, listing off what he thinks is necessary. Penolidis added that he can barely make ends meet, despite both he and his girlfriend working full-time. He criticized the high tax rates for unmarried individuals without children, calling them unfair and demotivating. The 33-year-old said he has recently been considering a return to Greece, citing tax policies and the structural racism he continues to face as major concerns. Yet Penolidis isn't without hope. If meaningful change occurs, he said he would like to stay in Germany and start a family. For him, that future depends not just on better policies, but on a deeper shift in how Germany's society sees and supports those who choose to call it home.
DW
01-07-2025
- Business
- DW
Integration to emigration: Why do migrants leave Germany? – DW – 07/01/2025
Germany promises opportunity and stability — yet many migrants feel overlooked and excluded. As more consider leaving, their stories point not only to policy gaps, but the need for a deeper societal shift. "Everything that brought me to Germany was no longer there, and at some point I thought, that's enough — I don't want my children, if I ever have any, to grow up in this country." Giannis N., who preferred not to give his last name, left the Greek island of Samos at the age of 18 to study civil engineering in Germany. He was drawn to Germany due to its strong reputation for offering equal opportunities and upholding social justice. In 2020, with a master's degree in hand, he decided to return to his homeland after 16 years. He worked in the western Germany city of Essen as a project manager in the private sector and later as a civil engineer building bridges in the public sector, before eventually trying his luck as a freelancer. "I did everything I could to build a life there, but I kept running into barriers," the now 39-year-old told DW. He recalled one striking example: "I was working on a construction site, and the client refused to pay the final invoice — over 100,000 euros," he said. "His response was: 'I won't let you get rich here in Germany.'" Giannis said it was a clear expression of resentment toward his foreign background. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoFor him, it was the feeling of never truly being accepted that ultimately led him to leave. Giannis finally made the move after realizing that, no matter how well integrated he was, he would always be seen as "the Greek." "First you're the lazy Greek at university, then the corrupt Greek at work. I'm proud to be Greek — but the mindset behind it eventually became toxic for me," he said. The very barriers Giannis N. faced in Germany are echoed in a new study published by the Institute for Employment Research. Based on a survey of 50,000 migrants who moved to Germany between the ages of 18 and 65, the study found that one in four was considering leaving. Asylums-seekers, who do not yet have recognized residence status in Germany, were excluded from the study. The survey, carried out between December 2024 and April 2025, showed that those most likely to leave are highly educated, successful and well-integrated — the very people Germany needs most. According to the study, intentions to emigrate from Germany are "the result of a complex interplay of individual characteristics, social integration, economic [reasons], and perceived societal acceptance." Respondents also cited family, political dissatisfaction, high taxes and bureaucracy as reasons for wanting to leave. Just over a quarter of people living in Germany have a migration background. Around 6.5 million people have come to the country since 2015 alone, predominantly Syrians and Ukrainians. Utku Sen, a 33-year-old cybersecurity engineer, also left Germany after three years — driven by a similar sense of exclusion. Describing his first year in Berlin as "a honeymoon," Sen told DW he later realized how tough life could be for a newcomer without strong German skills. "As a Turkish person, I always felt like a second-class citizen. I thought becoming part of the German community would take decades — maybe it would never happen at all," he said. Soon after posting a YouTube video in Turkish about everyday discrimination in Germany — which drew nearly half a million views — Sen moved to London. In the video, he compared life in Germany to Bruce Willis' character in "The Sixth Sense": "There is a life out there apart from you, and you don't belong to it. You wander around it like a ghost. Other people aren't even aware that you exist, and you can't connect with them either," he said being able to communicate in English made his life much easier in London. "Unlike Germany, British people are generally more open to and accepting of foreigners and different cultures. I haven't experienced any discrimination here. This has made me feel like a part of society and has increased my love for it," he said. According to Kalina Velikova of Bulgaria, even speaking the language fluently doesn't necessarily break down the barriers in Germany. Velikova, 35, who spent nine years in Bonn studying and working in social work, said she first felt excluded during her university years — despite speaking perfect German. "I'll never forget how long it took people to let me in — even just as a fellow student. I'd talk to someone one day, and the next, they'd act like they didn't know me. That just doesn't happen where I come from," she said. Over time, the constant sense of social distance began to affect her. "I started becoming colder. I felt like I was developing an allergy to Germany — and I didn't want that." In 2021, Velikova left Bonn for Sofia, where she now works as a project manager. "Of course, there are also daily struggles here," she said. "But overall, my quality of life has improved — even though I earn less and work more." For economist Christian Dustmann, director of the Rockwool Foundation Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work in Berlin, language remains a key factor in integration. He emphasized that learning German is essential — not just for the labor market and businesses, but for migrants themselves. At the same time, Dustmann argued that the perception of an unwelcoming atmosphere is not unique to Germany. "If you did that [survey] in the UK, responses would probably not be all that different from what you hear in Germany," he said. Dustmann also noted that the more immigrants a country receives, the more concerns arise among the resident population. "That may lead to a culture which some immigrants perceive as unwelcoming," he said. A 2024 study by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that public concern about migration in Germany is on the rise — a trend mirrored by the growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which capitalized on migration anxieties in Germany's February 2025 election, where it became the second-strongest party. Many people in Germany are increasingly worried about potential negative consequences of migrants coming to Germany, such as rising costs for the welfare state, housing shortages in urban areas, and growing challenges within the school system. In Dustmann's view, "politics has to walk a very fine line — between not overstretching the resident population, which then also gives space for right-wing populist parties, and at the same time being welcoming to newcomers who are also important parts of the economy and society." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video While politics must balance social cohesion and openness, Anastasios Penolidis believes real change goes deeper. The refugee camp field manager, who moved to Germany seven years ago, said educating the broader society is essential to addressing the challenges migrants face. "More political and social education, new institutions to combat phenomena like racism and lower taxes for low-income earners," he said, listing off what he thinks is necessary. Penolidis added that he can barely make ends meet, despite both he and his girlfriend working full-time. He criticized the high tax rates for unmarried individuals without children, calling them unfair and demotivating. The 33-year-old said he has recently been considering a return to Greece, citing tax policies and the structural racism he continues to face as major concerns. Yet Penolidis isn't without hope. If meaningful change occurs, he said he would like to stay in Germany and start a family. For him, that future depends not just on better policies, but on a deeper shift in how Germany's society sees and supports those who choose to call it home.
DW
30-06-2025
- Business
- DW
Germany: 1 in 4 immigrants doesn't want to stay – DW – 06/17/2025
Why are immigrants leaving Germany? A new study shows that other countries are more attractive to economically successful foreigners. Discrimination also plays a major role. The German economy is weakening — and yet many sectors desperately need skilled workers, including the medical professions, especially nursing, as well as IT, and construction. Germany also has a shortage of educators, cooks and people who can drive trucks and buses. At the end of 2024, there were around 1.4 million unfilled positions in German companies nationwide. At the same time, more and more immigrants are coming to Germany to work. In 2024, the proportion of foreign employees was just over 16%. It has more than doubled since 2010. Employment in medical professions is disproportionately high. More than one in six doctors is a foreign citizen. In nursing, employment growth since 2022 has been exclusively attributable to foreign personnel. Currently, one in five workers in this sector is an immigrant. But do these people actually want to stay in Germany in the long term? The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) at the Federal Employment Agency has now presented a study on this issue, based on a representative online survey of 50,000 people born abroad who immigrated to Germany between the ages of 18 and 65. The survey excludes asylum seekers who do not yet have recognized residence status in Germany. The survey period ran from December 2024 to April 2025. "Twenty-six percent, or around 2.6 million people, say that they actually considered leaving Germany last year, i.e., they thought about leaving the country," said Yuliya Kosyakova, head of the Migration, Integration, and International Labor Market Research Division at the IAB, as she summarized the figures at the presentation of the study in Berlin. "Around 3%, or 300,000 people, already have concrete plans to leave." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video About half of those who do not want to stay would like to return to their country of origin, while the other half want to move to another country. Poland and Romania are the most popular destinations among those who want to return. And for those immigrants who wish to move on to a third country, people expressed Switzerland, the US, or Spain as top envisaged destinations. "A key finding of our survey is that it is precisely those who moved to Germany to work or study, who are better educated or more economically successful and who have a better command of the German language, who are more likely than average to consider leaving or express concrete plans to emigrate," said IAB researcher Katia Gallegos Torres. Immigrants with a master's degree or doctorate and higher earners in particular have considered leaving Germany in the last twelve months. "In knowledge-intensive service sectors such as IT, finance, and business-related services, between 30% and 39% of those surveyed are considering emigrating," said Gallegos Torres. There are also "significant" emigration trends in healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. "In summary, these are precisely the people that Germany urgently needs to secure its skilled labor force. This selective emigration poses considerable risks for Germany's economic future." But what are the reasons? Family reasons play a major role for those returning home, while immigrants who want to move to another country are primarily looking for better career opportunities and higher earnings. Taxes and social security contributions and too much bureaucracy in Germany are frequently cited reasons for leaving. Added to this are experiences of discrimination. "Almost two-thirds of immigrants report perceived discrimination, for example at work, on the housing market, in public spaces or in contact with the police," says Gallegos Torres. "A third of immigrants also feel either not at all or only slightly welcome. These are factors that significantly increase the tendency to emigrate." The study shows that the political atmosphere in Germany has also played a role. "In 2024, the debate was very much dominated by the issue of migration, and social acceptance was not particularly high," noted Kosyakova. Just over a quarter of people in Germany have some kind of a migration background. Some 21 million people have either come to Germany themselves since 1950 or have parents who did. Some 6.5 million people have come to Germany since 2015 alone. The largest groups among them are Syrians and Ukrainians. In the federal elections in February, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which advocates for the deportation of millions of people with non-German roots, became the second-strongest political force in the country. Meanwhile, the conservative CDU won the election after promising a tougher immigration policy. Now in coalition with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the CDU's first migration policy measure was to extend border controls. Similarly, a plan to allow well-integrated immigrants to obtain citizenship more quickly, established by the last government, was immediately abolished. "These big debates about migration and migration policy have a negative impact on people, on the feeling of welcome, on experiences of discrimination," said Kosyakova. "These are reasons why people report thinking more often about emigrating or actually planning to leave Germany." Experts consistently calculate that Germany needs around 400,000 additional immigrants per year who will stay permanently in order to maintain its labor force. This, they argue, is also the only way to balance demographic trends. Germany is an aging country. There are more and more pensioners and fewer and fewer people in work. This not only leads to a labor shortage, but also to a lack of government revenue to finance pensions. Against this backdrop, the IAB study shows that "not only immigration, but also the long-term retention of immigrants is a key challenge," according to Kosyakova. Overall, there are many indications that government measures such as reducing bureaucracy, simplifying the recognition of qualifications, increasing digitalization, and providing tax breaks could reduce the tendency to emigrate, especially among professionally successful immigrants, say the IAB researchers. However, they add that "broad and honest" social acceptance is also needed. Meanwhile, the CDU is now calling for foreign medical students not to be allowed to leave so easily after graduating. Anyone who studies in Germany should follow their studies by working as a doctor for at least five years — preferably in rural areas of Germany, where there is a growing shortage of medical professionals. "Those who do not want to do so must repay the costs of this first-class education," said Sepp Müller, deputy chairman of the CDU group in parliament. The Health Ministry, also run by the CDU, has welcomed the proposal. "We must attract young doctors to work in Germany instead of watching them leave," explained Tino Sorge, state secretary in the you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.
DW
26-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Why Germany struggles to attract African skilled workers – DW – 06/26/2025
Opportunity cards, migration agreements, a so-called "Consular Service Portal": All these measures combined are supposed to attract foreign skilled workers to Germany. But why isn't anyone coming? Grace Ochieng (not her real name) began the visa application process a year ago to come study in Germany. "And then the insanity with the visa started," she tells DW. She already spoke German but that did not help the 26-year-old Kenyan navigate the maze of German bureaucracy. Despite holding a scholarship for her studies in International Relations, a student job confirmed and a thick folder full of documents, it took two months for her to get the necessary visa. "It should not be this way. It took an enormous toll on me and the start of my studies. Because of the visa process, some people don't make it here," she said. Grace's friend meanwhile ran into even bigger hurdles: her visa for a semester abroad got stuck in a bureaucratic quagmire until half of that semester was already gone — and with it the chance to study in Germany. "It's not so much the visa process that is so exhausting," Grace tells DW. "It's mostly the communication. When you call the German embassy, they don't answer. When you write emails, they don't reply. You're constantly holding your breath because you never know if they are going to say 'yes' or 'no.'" To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Grace is not alone in her uphill battle against Germany's red-tape for foreigners: Teresia Träutlein came to Germany in 2007 as an au-pair. Back then, she didn't only have to put up with fighting with bureaucratic issues but also the language itself. In the end, these experiences would however end up helping the trained nurse in the future: Träutlein now runs a care service agency near Heidelberg along with her husband. They employ over 20 African care workers and trainees. "We are currently helping a group from Kenya come to Germany. We're stuck because of the bureaucracy involved for getting the visa," she told DW. In her experience, the notarization process takes unduly long. Cultural integration and a lack of housing once people get to Germany are also major challenges along the way. Neverthelss, Germany still needs between 288,000 and 400,000 foreign skilled workers to move there yearly, according to a 2024 study by the Bertelsmann Institute based on estimates from Germany's Institute for Employment Research (IAB). Without this rate of immigration, Germany faces a significant worker shortage by 2040, which would have considerable negative impacts on economic growth and international competitiveness. In April 2025, the Federal Employment Agency reported around 646,000 job vacancies, primarily in Information Technology, healthcare and education. But most of those positions are yet to be filled. Since June 2024, Germany has been issuing the so-called Opportunity Card. This is a visa designed to allow skilled workers from non-European Union states to come in Germany without an existing work contract, and seek employment from scratch. The prerequisites include at least two years of vocational training or a university degree as well as basic German or English language skills. It builds on a points-based system that also evaluates professional experience, age and skills needed in Germany. Since 2025, the German Foreign Office's reveamped Consular Services Portal allows skilled foreign workers to apply online for a visa. The portal is supposed make the process faster and more efficient by simplifying the application process for different visa categories, including the Opportunity Card. Former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: "We are using language skills, qualifications and experience, to attract motivated and talented people to Germany." However, most applicants find that the portal is still too slow. Germany also signed a migration deal with Kenya in 2024 to attract skilled workers, especially in nursing and hospitality. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the time of the signing that Kenya had an "unbelievable number of IT experts" who would benefit from training in Germany. Kenya is so far the only African country with which Germany has managed to reach such a migration deal – but as of late 2024, only 90 Kenyan nursing workers had come to Germany using this route. Once again, the bureaucracy involved has been the chief deterrent for many qualified applicants. At the same time, a sizable portion of visa applications under the deal have been rejected amid an overall high rejection rate of sub-Saharan visa applicants to Germany. Clara Bünger of the The Left Party raised this issue in the Bundestag, in April 2025, highlighting that in 2022, over 3,400 of 7,914 student visa applications from Nigeria, and 1,972 from 8,150 from Ghana, were denied. In 2022, Germany granted a total 50,815 visas to all Africans, of which 20,545 (40%) were for intended for employment purposes, including academics, highly skilled workers, interns, au pairs and volunteers. But from Sub-Saharan Africa along, only 22,668 visas were issued, of which 7,966 (35%) were for employment. "The visa is the biggest problem," Khadi Camara from the German-African Business Association told DW. "The Opportunity Card is only an Opportunity Card for some people. One first has to fulfill the prerequisites. These are criteria that do not necessarily matter to employers, but do matter to the federal government." Just getting the necessary documents required for a visa can also be problematic. "German officials want original documents, which sometimes is just not possible. Then applicants need to prove how self-sufficient they are. And even if the would-be employers cover the applicant's costs, sometimes even that is not considered enough." Some meanwhile have repeatedly questioned whether Germany has what it takes to become and attractive destination for skilled workers. "It's very relevant to consider the political climate in Germany, not only taking into account how eager the government is to bring people here but also whether Germany can indeeed become a new home for Kenyans, Ghanaians, Sierra Leonians or South Africans," Camara said, adding that "we cannot ignore racism. The German government needs to take a clear position that people are welcome here." For Camara, that also includes removing language barriers: "In other countries, one does not have to fulfill certain language requirements and that's probably why those countries are more attractive. Last year, Christian Lindner [Germany's then-Finance Minister] was in Ghana at a university there, and asked who would want to come work in Germany. No one raised their hand." Teresia Träutlein and Grace Ochieng however say that in their experience, speaking German has proven to be quite necessary to lead a fully integrated life in Germany. Träutlein adds: "If the government wants to attract skilled workers to Germany, then it needs to support German language training abroad. Without the language, one does not get very far here." Camara says Germany has to realize that it is, in fact, competing for skilled workers against other players: "Global alliances are breaking down as we speak, and so we have to look for new partners. Many of them are on the African continent." For German companies like Teresia Träutlein's agency, the most important thing is that bureaucratic hurdles be removed. She and her husband are trying to simplify the process to bring over new employees from Kenya and have decided to start building a private language and nursing school there. "We are a small company but we have one goal: to combat unemployment in Kenya and bring these workers we need to Germany," she said. According to Träutlein, the immigration of skilled workers to Germany is ultimately a "win-win situation for everyone involved" — as long as the processes involved in making the cut improve significantly. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Business Standard
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Germany needs 500,000 immigrants yearly, but 43% may not stay for long
Germany needs skilled immigrants, but are they willing to stay? A new study by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) has found that while many migrants plan to remain, a large number are either uncertain or considering leaving — raising fresh questions about Germany's long-term retention strategy. The survey, conducted between December 2024 and April 2025, covered 50,000 foreign-born individuals aged 18 to 65. It excluded asylum seekers without recognised residence status. According to the IAB: • 12 per cent, roughly 1.2 million, see their stay as temporary • 30 per cent, or nearly 3 million people, are undecided Around 2.6 million immigrants said they had considered leaving Germany in the past year. Of them, 300,000 already have concrete emigration plans. These are split evenly between return migration and onward migration. 'Twenty-six per cent, or around 2.6 million people, say that they actually considered leaving Germany last year, i.e., they thought about leaving the country,' said Yuliya Kosyakova, head of migration and labour market research at the IAB. 'Around 3%, or 300,000 people, already have concrete plans to leave.' Who wants to leave — and where to? Among those planning to leave: • About half want to return to their home country, with Poland and Romania topping the list • The rest are looking to move elsewhere, with Switzerland, the United States, and Spain among the preferred destinations 'A key finding of our survey is that it is precisely those who moved to Germany to work or study, who are better educated or more economically successful and who have a better command of the German language, who are more likely than average to consider leaving or express concrete plans to emigrate,' said IAB researcher Katia Gallegos Torres. This includes immigrants with postgraduate degrees and higher incomes. In sectors like IT, finance, and business services, up to 39 per cent of those surveyed are contemplating emigration. 'There are also strong emigration trends in healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics,' said Gallegos Torres. 'In summary, these are precisely the people that Germany urgently needs to secure its skilled labour force.' Why immigrants want to leave The reasons cited by those planning to leave varied: • Family ties were the main reason for return migration • Better pay and professional opportunities drove onward migration • Dissatisfaction with bureaucracy, tax burdens, and political climate played a key role "Almost two-thirds of immigrants report perceived discrimination, for example at work, on the housing market, in public spaces or in contact with the police," said Gallegos Torres. "A third of immigrants also feel either not at all or only slightly welcome. These are factors that significantly increase the tendency to emigrate." A growing political chill Kosyakova noted that Germany's political atmosphere may be influencing these decisions. 'In 2024, the debate was very much dominated by the issue of migration, and social acceptance was not particularly high,' she said. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), known for its anti-immigration stance, emerged as the second-largest party in February's federal election. The CDU, which won the election, immediately rolled back plans to ease citizenship for well-integrated migrants and expanded border controls in its first coalition steps with the SPD. 'These big debates about migration and migration policy have a negative impact on people, on the feeling of welcome, on experiences of discrimination,' said Kosyakova. 'These are reasons why people report thinking more often about emigrating or actually planning to leave Germany.' Germany's demographic challenge The number of job vacancies remains high. At the end of 2024, German companies had 1.4 million unfilled positions. Shortages span from healthcare and IT to education, construction, and public transport. One in five nurses in Germany is now an immigrant. In 2024, foreigners made up just over 16 per cent of the total workforce, more than double the proportion in 2010. Dr Philipp Ackermann, Germany's ambassador to India, has been vocal about the need for more workers. 'We are really looking for talent. We are looking for the smartest, the brightest ones—the ones who maybe had an idea to go elsewhere. There is first-class education in Germany, especially in STEM, and most of it is in English,' said Ackermann earlier this month. In May 2025, Ackermann put the figure at 500,000 skilled workers needed annually. 'We need bakers, butchers, plumbers—people across the skills spectrum,' he said. What could help people stay? The IAB suggests that practical reforms could make a difference: • Reducing administrative hurdles • Streamlining recognition of foreign qualifications • Digitalising bureaucratic processes • Offering tax breaks to skilled workers The researchers also point to the need for broader social acceptance, beyond policy tweaks. Meanwhile, the CDU has proposed requiring foreign medical students to work in Germany for at least five years after graduation — or repay their tuition costs. 'Those who do not want to do so must repay the costs of this first-class education,' said Sepp Müller, deputy chairman of the CDU parliamentary group. The proposal has been backed by the CDU-led Health Ministry. 'We must attract young doctors to work in Germany instead of watching them leave,' said state secretary Tino Sorge. Who took part in the survey? The study covered immigrants from 188 countries. Seventy per cent of the respondents came from 26 countries, with the following groups most represented: Ukraine: 10.5 per cent individuals Turkey: 6.1 per cent individuals India: 4.4 per cent individuals United States: 4.3 per cent individuals Germany's challenge now lies not just in attracting migrants — but in persuading them that it's worth staying.
