Arbeitsmarkt im Osten: Ostdeutschland verliert ohne Zuwanderung viele Arbeitskräfte
Droht ein Teufelskreis? Warum Ostdeutschland ohne Zuwanderung viele Arbeitskräfte verliert - und welche Berufe besonders betroffen sind.
Without immigration, the working-age population in East German states is set to shrink significantly, according to calculations by the Institute of the German Economy (IW). The IW forecasts that by 2045, more than a fifth, or 22.4% of potential workers could be lost in the region, compared to 17.4% nationwide. A working-age individual is defined as someone between the ages of 15 and 66.
Currently, around 7.7 million people in East Germany fall within this age bracket, which would drop to approximately 6 million without immigration, the institute reports. Eastern Germany, particularly Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt, would be particularly hard hit. The shortage of workers, including nurses, craftsmen, doctors, and others, could strain the region's ability to serve its population, the economists explain.
The most noticeable impact would be felt in sectors that are difficult to automate, such as nursing, hairdressing, craftsmanship, and medicine. The IW warns that the worst-case scenario would involve a new wave of outmigration, similar to the 1990s, fueled by declining attractiveness of East German states: "This threatens a vicious cycle of fewer workers, reduced economic strength, lower appeal to younger generations, and even more departures."
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
