A quarter of migrants want to leave Germany

A new study from Germany’s Institute for Employment Research (IAB) has found that 26 percent of international migrants are considering leaving the country.

26 percent of internationals considering leaving Germany

A survey of 50.000 migrants to Germany aged between 18 and 65 has found that 26 percent are considering leaving the country. The study found that 3 percent of respondents already have concrete plans to leave.

More people were on the fence when it comes to their lives in Germany, 12 percent said they plan to stay temporarily, and 30 percent said they were yet undecided. Still in the majority, 57 percent of respondents said that they plan to stay in the country permanently.

The survey results come as the far-right and anti-immigration rhetoric grows in Germany, amid an increasing worker shortage, a declining population and warnings that the government must welcome new migrants to avoid economic stagnation.

Considerations about leaving were more common in certain industries. Between 30 and 39 percent of people working in information and communication, finance and insurance said they may leave Germany. In sectors hit particularly hard by the worker shortage, namely healthcare, social care, retail and transportation, between 24 and 28 percent of respondents said they were considering leaving.

Why are some migrants fed up with Germany?

According to the IAB’s study, political dissatisfaction, personal reasons, taxes, and bureaucracy were the main reasons respondents cited for considering leaving Germany. Refugees specifically cited discrimination as a major motivation.

For those considering moving back to their native country, personal reasons such as relationships with partners or family were a central motivation. For those considering moving to another, new country, professional prospects and economic circumstances were most frequently cited.

“For a migration politics fit for the future, it isn’t enough to encourage immigration,” IAB researcher Yuliya Kosyakova explained, “Removing structural barriers, introducing quick and transparent bureaucratic processes and encouraging social integration and societal candour are also a part of the process”.