EU workers increasingly leave Germany despite labour shortages, study finds

Germany is struggling to retain many EU workers even as the country faces persistent labour shortages, with a new government-backed study showing that a significant share of migrants leave within a few years of arriving.

The findings raise concerns about whether Europe’s largest economy can maintain the workforce it needs to support key sectors such as healthcare, construction and public administration.

The report, conducted by the EU Equal Treatment Office, found that many EU migrants move to Germany for better wages and job opportunities but ultimately decide not to stay long term. A considerable number leave the country within four years of arrival. Despite annual immigration flows ranging from around 400,000 to 700,000 people, Germany also records high emigration among EU citizens.

Germany’s labour shortages remain acute. According to the German Economic Institute, more than 260,000 jobs in the ten most affected sectors could not be filled with suitably qualified workers as of late 2025. In healthcare alone, the shortage was estimated at around 46,000 workers.

Most EU migrants in Germany arrive from Romania, followed by Poland and Bulgaria. Other common countries of origin include Italy, Hungary and Spain. Romanian, Polish and Bulgarian citizens alone account for around 80% of migrants from countries that gained full freedom of movement within the EU during the past 10 to 15 years.

However, immigration from several of these countries has recently declined. In 2024, net migration from EU countries fell sharply to about 38,700 people — down nearly 67% from the previous year.

Interviews conducted as part of the study suggest that many migrants view Germany as an unstable or difficult place to settle. Almost 39% of respondents said they did not feel comfortable living in the country, while nearly half reported experiencing discrimination at work.

Other factors discouraging migrants from staying include inflexible working conditions, difficulties getting foreign qualifications recognised and limited opportunities to work in their trained profession.

Bureaucracy was also frequently cited as a challenge, particularly when dealing with administrative procedures or professional certification. The report concludes that stronger support for migrants in the labour and housing markets, along with a more welcoming environment, could increase the likelihood that EU workers remain in Germany.

Meanwhile, employment growth in the country is increasingly driven by workers from outside the EU.