German Workers Eye Exit: Two-Thirds Consider Leaving as High Earners Lead Charge
Published on 06/22/2026 at 07:33 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Among German employees earning more than €6,000 net per month, half are already actively applying for jobs abroad. That finding comes from a survey of 1,000 workers conducted between May 8 and 11, 2026 by market research platform Appinio and job portal Indeed. Overall, two-thirds of respondents said they could imagine working outside Germany, and one-third had already made concrete inquiries about opportunities overseas.
Better pay and higher quality of life were the main motivators for more than half of those surveyed. Over 40 percent cited a lower tax burden as decisive. The most popular destinations are the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States – though interest in the US has fallen compared with earlier polls. The majority of potential emigrants envision only a temporary stay.
Indeed economist Sondergeld called the results “a clear signal of growing dissatisfaction with the current conditions at the German location.”
Younger generations show even stronger wanderlust. The “Youth in Germany 2026” study reports that 21 percent of 14-to-29-year-olds are concretely planning to emigrate, while 41 percent can picture making the move. The German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) finds that 21 percent of the total population is now considering emigration – a sharp jump from 13 percent in 2019.
The technology sector faces a particularly acute crunch. Industry association Bitkom warns of a “digital exodus,” with 109,000 IT positions currently unfilled and a projected shortfall of up to 663,000 skilled workers by 2040. A key driver is the salary gap: software developers in Germany earn between €66,000 and €90,600 annually, compared with roughly $178,000 in the United States. According to a Bitkom survey from March 2026, one in four German startups is considering relocating abroad, citing not only pay differences but also lengthy visa processes and a lack of venture capital.
Public debate around emigration has also produced false claims. A dpa fact-check confirmed that no general emigration fee of up to €10,000 exists, and the federal finance ministry has no plans to introduce one. Costs arise only individually for visas or moving expenses. A so-called exit tax applies solely in specific asset constellations.
For workers moving within the EU, membership in statutory health insurance typically ends – exceptions are made for cross-border commuters and pensioners. The S1 form is necessary to maintain coverage elsewhere in Europe. For moves outside the European Union or the European Economic Area, insurance protection generally relies on bilateral agreements.
While many skilled workers look abroad, Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, recently examined domestic alternatives. It concluded that a moderate increase of 1.3 hours in the average weekly working time could lift potential economic growth from 0.3 percent to 0.6 percent per year, closing half of the working-time gap compared with other EU states. Immigration remains important, the Bundesbank noted, but is insufficient on its own to meet demographic challenges.
In a separate administrative note, the federal government overpaid employees stationed abroad by roughly €5 million between July 2025 and June 2026 due to calculation errors in overseas salary administration.
Disclaimer regarding our articles: No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Information on prices, companies, and markets is provided without guarantee; changes are possible at any time. Stock market transactions can lead to substantial losses. Our articles are created and reviewed in whole or in part automatically with the support of AI.
