Record number of Germans emigrate abroad in 2022: Report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Website
29 Jul 2023 00:02

A record number of 270,000 Germans emigrated abroad in 2022, predominantly for professional reasons and frustration with the german complicated bureaucracy.

German flag on parliament building ( Reichstag), berlin, Germany 2015 (AFP)

A recent report by France Info shows that approximately 270,000 Germans left their homeland in 2022 to seek opportunities overseas, marking the highest number since 2016.

According to statistics, six out of ten emigrants were male, with an average age of 35, and nearly three out of every four held university degrees.

While some individuals chose to relocate for a better quality of life, the majority departed for professional reasons, often citing frustration with complicated German bureaucracy.

"These are simply individuals dissatisfied with the politics and regulations in place. With the government's restrictive measures during the COVID crisis, emigration rates have surged once more. If I believe I cannot change the system here, there are only two options: either adapt or leave," one emigrant said.

Switzerland, Austria, and the United States emerged as the most popular destinations. Such that in Switzerland and the US, the net income is significantly higher, and tax rates are much lower. Both Austria and Switzerland share the same language, making migration there a seamless process.

The brain drain phenomenon negatively impacts the German economy, which is facing a severe labor shortage. However, some of the emigrants are eventually replaced through migration, as some Germans return after spending several years abroad.

Back in 2022, the government's senior economic aide warned, the inflation in Germany is likely to remain high until the end of 2024 as the country's as companies spill their rising costs onto customers.

"Inflation will also be an issue in 2024, and only thereafter will we maybe see it returning to 2%," Monika Schnitzer, who heads the council of economists that advises the German government said.

"Inflation is remaining high because we are seeing second-round effects, with companies passing on their higher costs - and some significantly exaggerating," she added, according to Rheinische Post newspaper.

Back in November 2022, Germany's inflation stood at around 11.3% running high at its fastest pace since the early 1950s. Schnitzer stated she was concerned about the high electricity prices, saying that it's urgent that the government checks whether it would make sense to let the remaining 3 nuclear plants run for 2 to 3 years beyond planned.