Why skilled workers come to Germany and then leave again
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
An IAB study finds bureaucracy, language barriers, and discrimination drive skilled migrants away from Germany.
The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) surveyed emigrants who left Germany after immigrating before April 2025. Key factors driving departure include lengthy processing times for permits and visa, high administrative fees, poor career support, and discrimination. Younger emigrants, those with weaker German skills, and those with family abroad are more likely to leave. 60% return to home countries; 40% move to other EU states. Experts note that inadequate language support upfront and mismatched job placements also contribute.
What commenters are saying
Commenters strongly agree that German bureaucracy and discrimination are major issues, with several sharing personal experiences of opaque processes and paperwork errors causing severe problems. Many argue the problem is cultural insularity and racism, not just bureaucracy, citing incidents with hijab-wearing professionals and rising AfD support. Some push back, noting Germany is still better than most countries for migrants and that integration requires adapting to local norms.