Germany, Europe's strongest economy and once a synonym for stability and prosperity, is now seeing more and more of its citizens arguing that they cannot take it anymore and are seeking their future... in another country, with the most popular destinations being... the US, Switzerland, and the UK... With the industry being tested, energy costs remaining high, taxation causing discontent, and the economy moving on the brink of stagnation, the flight of skilled workers is evolving into one of the biggest challenges for Berlin. New research shows that two out of three working Germans are thinking about... emigrating, at a time when the country is recording a new historical record of resident departures.
Unbearable life
A new survey by the analytics company Appinio shows that approximately two out of three working Germans would like to work abroad, seeking higher salaries and a better quality of life. At the same time, Germany recorded a new historical record of emigration in 2025, as 288,500 people left the country, compared to 270,000 in 2024.
High taxes and better opportunities abroad
More than 40% of the survey participants consider that the tax burden in Germany is excessive, while almost 30% have already searched for information about working in another country. The most popular destinations are the UK, Switzerland, and the United States. The economist of the job search platform Indeed, Virginia Sondergeld, characterized the findings as a clear message of discontent. "The fact that two out of three are thinking about leaving is a clear indication that citizens are not satisfied with current conditions," she stated, calling on politicians and employers to take the phenomenon seriously.
Stagnant economy
According to Lyudmila Ivanova-Shvets, an associate professor at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, the German economy has been in a state of stagnation for several years. As she reports, GDP increased by just 0.2% in 2025. For his part, professor Sergey Zainullin argues that Germany lost access to cheap raw materials and energy resources from Russia, while also facing difficulties in trade relations with the United States. As he notes, the decline in industrial production and the closure of businesses are pushing more and more citizens to emigrate.
Lost access to cheap Russian energy
A similar view was expressed by the leader of the AfD party, Alice Weidel, who in an interview with Reuters argued that access to cheap Russian energy was a key factor in the success of "Made in Germany" products. "The loss of these energy resources set us back years. We lost hundreds of thousands of jobs and became dependent on the US, which sells us energy at much higher prices," Weidel stated.
Businesses transfer investments outside Germany
According to the financial newspaper Handelsblatt, more and more German businesses are transferring factories and investments abroad. A recent survey shows that about 60% of businesses plan a gradual reduction of staff in Germany, while this year alone it is estimated that up to 100,000 jobs will be lost in industry, mainly in the sectors of engineering, the automotive industry, and construction. The new investments are directed mainly toward India, China, North America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Increased cost of living
Experts point out that after the closure of nuclear power plants and the halt of cheap imports of Russian natural gas and oil, energy costs for households increased significantly. According to data published by Bild, citing a study by the platform Verivox, in the period 2022-2025:
• a family of four paid an additional 4,815 euros for natural gas and 1,149 euros for electricity,
• a family of three paid an additional 4,376 euros for natural gas and 1,016 euros for electrical energy,
• a couple was burdened with 2,947 euros for natural gas and 821 euros for electricity,
• while a single-person household paid an additional 1,264 euros for natural gas and 500 euros for electricity. At the same time, according to the magazine The European Conservative, the quality of life in Germany is deteriorating due to economic stagnation, the increase in taxation, and the gradual shrinkage of the welfare state. The experts cited in the publication also attribute the growing dissatisfaction to the deterioration of the social climate, migratory pressures, the increase in crime, and geopolitical tensions.
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