Germany is turning into an unlivable place. One group in particular escapes
New research shows that a significant proportion of professionals in fields particularly important for industry, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM for short) who currently work in Germany are considering leaving your job and leaving the country.
“36% of STEM professionals are considering or planning to move abroad. These are not abstract intentions, but… direct reality” – according to an analysis conducted by the HR consulting company Sthree. The basis of the study is a representative YouGov survey, which was conducted among 5,391 specialists in Germany, Great Britain, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.
In direct comparison, the results for Germany are not good. Already last year, 23 percent STEM specialists changed jobs or went abroad. This is the second highest result among the countries surveyed. In the United States it was only 16 percent. In Japan, only 4% of people changed their employer in the last 12 months. people.
— STEM workers are there more internationally mobile than other specialists. This applies to all countries in the world, says Axel Plunnecke, an expert on this topic at the Institute of German Economics (IW) in Cologne. — Programming languages and science laws are identical all over the world, so the competencies can be more easily used in other countries as well.
This also means that competition for qualified employees is extremely high internationally. There is also a particular imbalance in Germany.
Many students, few qualified workers
The situation is as follows: science education in Germany is excellent, but job opportunities apparently are not. According to the current IW report on qualified workers in the field of science, there are currently 185,000 students studying at universities. science students. At the same time, there are 148.5 thousand people missing on the labor market. qualified workers in this field. German universities are very popular, especially among international students.
—Germany still enjoys a good reputation as technical country. This is also one of the reasons why so many international students pursue STEM studies in Germany, says Plunnecke. However, this trend is not without controversy. The Federal Statistical Office found in November that although the number of students increased by a total of 0.4% in the winter semester. to almost 2.9 million, at the same time “the number of first-year students of computer science, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering decreased.”
According to IW, 53.7 percent people coming from abroad and studying in Germany are enrolled in STEM fields. However, there are some reservations here: although the overall retention rate of foreign students at universities is assessed as “very good”, in a ten-year perspective it is only 45%. for all directions.
Too little compared to real needs? According to a Sthree survey last year, 39 percent STEM executives have experienced outflow of talents abroad.
German flag in Berlin (illustrative photo)hanohiki / Getty Images
Specialists in motion
The willingness to work elsewhere is also lower in other countries. In Great Britain, 37 percent people would consider changing their job to a permanent position without the possibility of remote work abroad. In Germany this figure was 44%. Higher readiness to work abroad among people interested in changing jobs was recorded in the Netherlands (47%) and the United Arab Emirates (53%).
What prompts experts to leave? The survey also answers this question. In Germany, approximately 35 percent respondents stated that they exist in other countries better earning opportunities or higher quality of life. One of the reasons may also be the deliberate recruitment of well-educated specialists. 44 percent survey participants admitted that they had received job offers abroad.
“Science professionals are on the move. This is not a random distribution, but a deliberate migration,” say Sthree analysts. Those who leave tend to head primarily to the United States for “higher salaries and diverse career and research opportunities.” Switzerland is also popular, where you can also earn more money and have a “strong pharmaceutical and technology industry.”
Canada also attracts people looking to immigrate. According to Sthree, it is also chosen by those looking for “a better quality of life and thriving technology centers.” Respondents criticized Germany more than all other countries for “lack of qualified personnel” (37%) and “lack of innovation culture” (30%).
More than money
It is worth noting that it is not only money that determines whether STEM industry experts want to stay or leave. “Financial incentives are important, but they are only part of the broader value proposition,” says Sthree. “Whoever wants to retain or acquire talent must offer more than just a salary – for example flexibility, culture and location benefits“.
At the same time, companies that are understaffed due to departures may operate less innovatively, develop their position in the market less well – and pay less. In addition, there are traditionally high taxes and non-wage costs in Germany. 81 percent survey participants in Germany said that the departures of skilled workers impact projects in their daily work.
However, it is difficult to estimate how many people will actually go abroad, says Plunnecke. Nevertheless, the number of expatriates in all industries is reaching record levels. Last year 270 thousand Germans left the Federal Republic.
According to the expert, this can be counteracted – especially at universities attractive to qualified employees. — Germany needs good accompanying programs at universities regarding language learning, study success and job search to further encourage international students to stay in Germany, says Plunnecke. — The initial situation is good: today, compared to other countries, many international students stay in Germany after completing their studies, and the desire to stay is even greater.
