Why are migrants planning to leave Germany?

Germany is increasingly reliant on skilled immigration to address widespread labor shortages, especially in sectors like IT, healthcare, and logistics. However, a new comprehensive study from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) reveals a concerning trend: many of the very immigrants Germany depends on well-educated, economically successful, and linguistically integrated individuals are are contemplating leaving the country. These findings highlight a looming crisis in the country’s efforts to secure long-term skilled labor, particularly in high-demand sectors.

The study, conducted between December 2024 and April 2025, surveyed around 50,000 migrants, offering the most representative insights yet into the intentions and motivations of Germany’s immigrant population.

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Key Findings: Who plans to stay, Who wants to Leave?

The findings show that 57% of immigrants (approx. 5.7 million) plan to stay in Germany permanently. However,

• 12% (1.2 million) see their stay as temporary
• 30% (3 million) are undecided
• 26% (2.6 million) have considered emigration in the past year
• 3% (300,000) already have concrete emigration plans, of these, half plan to return to their countries of origin, while the other half aim to move to a third country such as Switzerland, the USA, or Spain.

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Why migrants want to leave Germany?

The motives for emigration vary based on the migrant’s background. While family ties influence return migration to home countries like Poland and Romania, improved economic opportunities drive continued migration to countries like Switzerland and the United States.

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Economic and Career Opportunities

• Migrants seeking further mobility often head to countries like Switzerland, the USA, and Spain, drawn by higher salaries, better work-life balance, and streamlined systems.
• Greater international recognition of qualifications boosts confidence in pursuing work abroad.
• Job dissatisfaction is another reason for moving out of Germany

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Political and Bureaucratic Frustrations

• Many cite political dissatisfaction, especially concerning migration and integration policies.
• Germany's high tax burden and complex bureaucracy are significant deterrents.

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Social and Emotional Factors

• A perceived lack of belonging, discrimination at work, and bureaucratic hurdles in everyday life reduce the desire to stay.
• Refugees in particular report discrimination from authorities, police, and employers, which increases emigration intent.

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Who’s more likely to Leave?

Demographic and migration-specific factors also shape emigration plans:

• Men express higher intentions to leave than women.
• Migrants from EU countries or those who came for work or education show higher mobility than refugees or family reunification migrants.
• Permanent residents or German/EU citizens show more emigration plans, likely because they have more legal and practical freedom to move.

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Factors driving migrant emigration

Education and Employment: Paradox of Integration

Ironically, those most likely to leave Germany are also those who are most integrated and most needed. Migrants with higher education, foreign qualifications recognized in Germany, and German degrees are significantly more likely to consider leaving. These individuals often work in critical fields such as IT, technical services, healthcare, and construction, sectors already experiencing severe labor shortages.

Additionally, higher earnings correlate with stronger emigration intentions, showing that even economically anchored individuals are not immune to dissatisfaction. Job satisfaction plays a stabilizing role: the less satisfied people are with their jobs, the more likely they are to want to leave.

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Social and Linguistic Integration

Social integration factors also heavily influence the decision to emigrate. Migrants with strong emotional ties to Germany, close social contacts with Germans, and family in the country are more likely to stay. A strong feeling of being welcomed and low levels of perceived discrimination also significantly reduce emigration intentions.

On the other hand, those with better German and English language skills, which enhance international job prospects, tend to express a higher willingness to move abroad.

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Policy Implications and the need for Reform

The study emphasizes that emigration intentions do not occur at random. They result from a complex interplay of personal background, social integration, economic positioning, and perceived societal acceptance.

To address this growing challenge, the study recommends:

• Streamlining bureaucracy
• Accelerating recognition of foreign qualifications
• Simplifying migration and administrative processes
• Promoting anti-discrimination measures
• Encouraging family-friendly and inclusive integration policies

Creating a society where migrants feel valued and see real opportunities for personal and professional growth is crucial to retaining them long-term.

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The study’s findings point to a strategic inflection point. Germany must not only attract skilled migrants but also ensure they stay. The selective emigration of highly qualified, integrated migrants threatens the long-term stability of the skilled labor market. Only by addressing structural barriers and fostering a truly inclusive society can Germany hope to retain the very individuals essential to its future prosperity.

This urgent call for reform underscores the importance of sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking migration policies that go beyond mere attraction and focus on long-term retention and integration.