Unveiling the Discontent: Highly Educated Migrants Contemplate Germany's Exit
Migrants with high education levels tend to demonstrate a stronger inclination towards emigration. - Migrants with advanced education voicing their plans to relocate internationally, according to research findings.
In a surprising turn of events, the "knowledge-intensive service sectors" such as IT, finance, and insurance are on the verge of losing key talents. A study suggests that between 30 and 39% of migrants working in these industries might consider leaving Germany. Similar trends are surfacing in areas like healthcare, social services, manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing.
"This could spell trouble given the existing skills shortages," says Gallegos Torres. The study reveals a correlation between educational status, income, and emigration intentions. Among the migrants eyeing Germany's exit, a preference for returning to their home country, Switzerland, the USA, and Spain is noticeable.
The survey, conducted online between December 2024 and April 2025, involved approximately 50,000 migrants. The researchers underscored the survey’s representativeness. A startling 26% of respondents admitted they've already pondered departure, while 57% are adamant about making Germany their permanent home.
Satisfaction with work and social integration play a significant role in curbing emigration intentions. However, experiences of discrimination, particularly in interactions with authorities or at work, significantly increase the likelihood of emigration.
Tax burden, complex bureaucracy, and the economic situation in Germany top the list of reasons behind emigration plans, with political situation, personal career aspirations, and discrimination close behind.
The study stresses the need for a forward-thinking migration policy that not only boosts immigration but offers long-term staying prospects. "The survey findings provide valuable insights for this and underscore the urgency of addressing structural barriers, expediting and simplifying migration processes, strengthening social integration, and fostering societal openness," the study states.
Suggested measures include sweeping de-bureaucratization, centralization, simplification, digitization, and acceleration of migration and administrative processes. Efforts should focus on streamlining and accelerating labor migration processes, making foreign degree recognition more efficient, transparent, and digital, and eliminating unnecessary hurdles to make Germany more attractive to skilled professionals.
However, recent policy changes in Germany primarily revolve around tightening rules, restricting family reunification, and increasing residency requirements for citizenship. The specific measures aimed at improving the process for highly skilled migrants and reducing barriers to employment remain unclear in current policy discussions.
- Contemplating Exit: Migrants
- Germany
- Migration Trends
- IAB
- Emigration Intention
- Switzerland
- USA
- Spain
- Immigration Policy
- Integration
Insights:
- The German government may continue to support skilled labor migration, particularly in STEM fields, as part of broader economic strategies.
- Integration programs focusing on language courses and vocational training could be expanded or refined to support migrants.
- Simplification of processes could involve digitalization, clearer guidelines for employers, and efficient processing times for skilled migrant applications.
- Speculative measures to improve integration, reduce barriers to employment, and streamline processes for highly skilled migrants are not yet publicly outlined in the context of recent policy changes.
- Highly educated migrants, particularly those in fields like IT, finance, and insurance, are considering leaving Germany due to factors such as tax burden, complex bureaucracy, and the economic situation, which could lead to a serious skilled labor shortage in the knowledge-intensive service sectors.
- The study also indicates that among those contemplating departure, a significant number are planning to return to their home country, Switzerland, the USA, or Spain, suggesting that the German immigration policy may need to be revisited and made more attractive for skilled professionals.
- To address this issue, the study recommends sweeping de-bureaucratization, centralization, simplification, digitization, and acceleration of migration and administrative processes, as well as improvements in foreign degree recognition, labor migration processes, and social integration programs that focus on language courses and vocational training. However, it appears that specific measures aimed at reducing barriers to employment and improving the process for highly skilled migrants are not yet clearly outlined in the context of recent policy changes.
