World Immigration News

(Berliner Morgenpost)Fear of the AfD? Foreign Workers Avoid Eastern Germany

Release Date
2026-05-05
Media
Berliner Morgenpost
Summary
Germany is facing a growing labor shortage due to the retirement of baby boomers, with around 500,000 vacancies expected to rise to 770,000 by 2028. Immigration is seen as essential to filling this gap, and currently about one in four working-age people in Germany has a migrant background.

However, there is a clear East-West divide. Immigrant skilled workers tend to prefer western regions and city-states, while eastern Germany has a much lower share of foreign workers. This is partly linked to weaker economic structures and less welcoming social environments, as well as higher support for the far-right AfD in eastern states.

Experts and policymakers stress that attracting foreign workers requires not only job opportunities but also a culture of openness and integration. Without this, regions—especially in eastern Germany—will struggle to address their labor shortages.
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Germany

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