Many Germans, especially higher earners, could imagine starting a new job abroad, according to a new survey — but they don’t want to leave Germany forever.
According to the survey conducted by the Appinio institute on behalf of the job-search website Indeed, two thirds of Germans currently in full-time work have considered moving abroad, one third have made concrete enquiries about doing so.
The most attractive foreign countries for Germans considering a professional move are the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, although the popularity of the USA is reportedly falling.
“When two-thirds of the workforce have considered moving away, that should be seen as a sign of dissatisfaction with working conditions at home,” commented Virginia Sondergeld, an economist at Indeed.
For over half of those surveyed, the main incentives to move away were higher pay and a better general quality of life. Only a quarter said their desire to move was influenced by a desire for promotion or better career prospects. More than 40%, however, admitted that they would also hope to pay less tax abroad.
The desire to move abroad appears particularly strong among higher earners, with around half of those with monthly household incomes of over €6,000 ($6,875) having already applied for a job abroad or actively scouring the market.
Nevertheless, even those Germans who fancy leaving the country don’t want to stay away forever. Most would like to work abroad for several years or even for just a few months, but the majority would intend to return to Germany eventually.
While international mobility is fundamentally a good thing, Indeed’s Sondergeld called on German employers and politicians to heed the warning carried by the survey.
“It’s about creating new incentives for work in Germany,” she said. “It’s about improving working conditions and offering talented people real reasons to stay.”