Germany Needs 400,000 Immigrants Annually to Combat Labor Shortage
Germany needs around 400,000 immigrants every year to address its labor shortage, according to a study by the Institute for Employment Research of the Federal Employment Agency (IAB). The new government’s slogan, “Dare to Make More Progress,” therefore applies explicitly to migration and integration policy. The coalition agreement aims to make Germany a “diverse immigration country” by significantly simplifying immigration policy. To achieve this, a migration system for skilled workers will be created, and asylum procedures will be expedited through a new system.
A study by the Bertelsmann Foundation has examined how the population’s attitude towards immigration has changed over the past year. Kantar Emnid surveyed approximately 2,000 people aged 14 and over in November 2021. According to the latest edition of the study, which has been examining attitudes towards migration in Germany annually since 2012, skepticism towards immigration in the population has decreased over the past year. Instead, more Germans see migrants as an opportunity. Although concerns about the negative consequences of migration have also decreased over the past year, they still exist among a majority.
According to the publication, “something is happening.” However, critical considerations and rejection are still “present and noticeable.” A majority of respondents (68%) see immigration primarily as an opportunity for the economy. According to the survey participants (55%), migration brings advantages in the settlement of international companies and in the shortage of skilled workers. Additionally, almost half (48%) of respondents expect increased revenue for the pension insurance system through immigration, and nearly two-thirds (65%) expect migration to lead to a lower aging of society.
However, more than two-thirds (67%) fear that migrants will become a burden on the welfare state. Survey participants also expect conflicts between immigrants and locals (66%) and problems in schools (56%). More than half (59%) of respondents are concerned about the housing shortage in urban areas. As the authors explain, there are significant differences in attitudes towards migrants, mainly depending on age and education level. There were also “noticeable deviations” between East and West Germany.
