Germany: Is Saxony-Anhalt's economy really struggling?
Germany's far-right AfD has long claimed that the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt has been left behind. Is that really the case? A closer look at the data offers some interesting insights.
The upcoming state election in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, has attracted attention due to the strong showing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Recent opinion polls suggest the AfD could win the most votes in this election. In the last election in 2021, the AfD secured around 20% of the vote and was the largest opposition party.
Saxony-Anhalt is currently governed by a coalition comprising the Christian Democrats (CDU), the Social Democrats (SPD), and the Free Democrats (FDP), with Sven Schulze of the CDU as the state premier. The AfD has accused Saxony-Anhalt of being economically and socially disadvantaged, both socially and economically. The unemployment rate in the state exceeds the national average, and median earnings for full-time employees are lower than the German average.
Of the state's 2.1 million residents, slightly under 800,000 hold jobs that require social security contributions.
Traditionally, the chemical industry has been a major employer and a significant contributor to Saxony-Anhalt's economy, particularly in the chemical triangle around Leuna, Merseburg, and Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Additionally, machinery and plant engineering companies, including those supplying the struggling automotive industry, play a crucial role in the manufacturing sector.
The retail, transport, and hospitality sectors account for around one-fifth of jobs, with many roles in tourism and the Harz Mountains, Luther cities, and UNESCO World Heritage sites contributing to the state's appeal.
Despite claims that eastern German states remain economically underperforming compared to western Germany, this is no longer accurate. However, a higher proportion of pensioners in Saxony-Anhalt, coupled with fewer company pensions and private retirement savings, results in a lower economic output per capita compared to the national average.
The AfD has focused on immigration as a central campaign theme, warning about "too much immigration" and "foreign influence," despite Saxony-Anhalt having relatively few non-Germans compared to other German states. Since 2016, more non-Germans have moved to Saxony-Anhalt than left, and net migration has been positive for the past six years.
Foreign nationals account for around 9% of Saxony-Anhalt's population, a proportion roughly half of that in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. While the claim that foreigners are living off taxpayers is misleading, the proportion of foreign nationals among potential recipients of welfare benefits is relatively low in Saxony-Anhalt.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
