Research: Highly Skilled Foreign Workers Frequently Consider Exit from Germany
Well-educated migrants express higher intentions to emigrate, according to new research. - Migrants with advanced education expressing a strong desire to relocate, according to research findings
Want to know where the trending exodus of educated migrants is headed? As per a recent study, the exodus is especially prevalent in knowledge-intensive industries such as IT, finance, and insurance services, with between 30 to 39 percent of the surveyed migrants pondering a move out of Germany. This isn't limited to the aforementioned industries; healthcare and social services, manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing also indicate relevant emigration tendencies.
"This could present a significant risk given the existing skills shortages," Gallegos Torres commented. The study exhibits a correlation between educational status, income, and emigration intentions. Interestingly, among those desiring to leave Germany without a return to their home countries, the top preferred destinations are Switzerland, the USA, and Spain.
Approximately 50,000 migrants participated in the online survey between December 2024 and April 2025, ensuring representative outputs, according to the authors. Among the respondents, 26 percent had already pondered a move, while 57 percent preferred a permanent stay in Germany.
The analysis shows that migrants content with their job offers are less likely to entertain emigration plans. Social integration and active engagement in society help decrease the desire to emigrate. On the flip side, experiences of discrimination, particularly in interactions with authorities or at work, significantly increase the probability of emigration.
Migrants largely cited the tax burden, complex bureaucracy, and unfavorable economic conditions in Germany as the primary reasons for their emigration intentions. Political circumstances, personal career considerations, and experiences of discrimination all played significant roles as well.
Given the survey findings, the authors stress the importance of a forward-looking migration policy that exceeds just attracting immigrants to Germany but rather fosters long-term residence prospects. "The survey results provide valuable insights for this and underscore the urgency of dismantling structural barriers, expediting and streamlining migration and administrative processes, enhancing social integration, and promoting societal openness," they stated.
Proposed measures include extensive deregulation, centralization, simplification, digitization, and digitization of migration and administrative procedures. Specifically, labor migration processes should be further streamlined and sped up. The efficient, transparent, and digital handling of foreign degree recognition and visa issuance would help remove obstacles and make Germany more attractive in the fierce global competition for qualified professionals.
Keywords:
- Germany
- Migrants
- Migration trends
- Emigration
- IAB
- Switzerland
- USA
- Spain
- Integration
- Logistics
Insights:
- Current policies are geared towards stricter immigration measures and promotion of integration.
- Measures for deregulation, centralization, simplification, digitization, and the recognition of foreign degrees are not explicitly mentioned but could potentially support the main goals.
- Potential emigration drivers for highly skilled migrants include the tax burden, complex bureaucracy, general economic situation, political climate, and personal career opportunities.
- To address the high emigration rates of skilled foreign workers in Germany, particularly in knowledge-intensive industries such as IT, finance, and insurance services, a forward-thinking migration policy is essential to foster long-term residence prospects.
- The authors of the recent study emphasize that simply attracting immigrants to Germany is not enough; instead, policies should focus on improving social integration, reducing bureaucracy, and enhancing societal openness to retain foreign workers.
- Factors contributing to the emigration intentions of highly skilled migrants in Germany include not only the tax burden and complex bureaucracy, but also political circumstances, personal career considerations, and experiences of discrimination.
