German Migrants Weigh Leaving the Country, Citing Unhappiness and Bureaucracy
A recent study by the Institute for Labour Market and Education Research, based on the International Mobility Panel of Migrants in Germany, has revealed that approximately 26% of the 2.6 million individuals who have migrated to Germany are considering leaving the country. This translates to around 3% of the total, or roughly 300,000 people, who have already made concrete plans to depart.
According to the study, the main reasons cited by those considering leaving Germany are political dissatisfaction, personal reasons, tax burdens and bureaucracy. The majority of those who plan to return to their home countries aim to do so in Europe, with Poland and Romania being the most common destinations. Non-EU states such as Turkey and Ukraine also feature prominently, while for those who intend to move to another country, Switzerland, the United States and Spain are the most popular choices.
The study highlights that the reasons for considering leaving Germany are not limited to a particular group, as both working migrants, education and family migrants and even those who have fled their home countries, cite similar motivations, including political dissatisfaction, personal reasons and bureaucratic hurdles.
For those who wish to return to their home countries, social factors are the primary driving force, with personal ties to partners, family and friends being the most commonly cited reasons. In contrast, those planning to move to a different country prioritize professional and economic factors, with the economic situation of the destination country being a significant consideration.
The study’s findings suggest that the desire to leave Germany is not a random occurrence, but rather the result of a complex interplay of individual motivations, personal characteristics, social and economic integration and societal acceptance, according to IAB researcher Katia Gallegos-Torres.
The study also reveals that certain industries, such as information and communication, finance and insurance and business services, have a higher percentage of individuals considering leaving, with rates ranging from 30 to 39%. Even in sectors deemed essential, such as healthcare and social services, as well as manufacturing and logistics, there are significant trends of individuals considering leaving, with rates between 24 and 28%.
Notably, the more educated, economically successful and linguistically integrated migrants are more likely to consider leaving, despite being the very group Germany needs to secure its skilled workforce, according to IAB researcher Lukas Olbrich.
Of the individuals with plans to leave, around 21% hope to return to Germany in the long term, a third rule out the possibility and nearly half remain undecided, indicating a significant potential for return. For a future-oriented migration policy, it is not sufficient to simply promote immigration, but rather to create permanent stay perspectives, said Yuliya Kosyakova, head of the IAB’s research department for migration, integration and international labour market research. This can be achieved by reducing structural hurdles, streamlining and making administrative processes more transparent, as well as promoting social integration and societal openness.