Star developer who departed Stockholm for Berlin affirms Berlin's salaries are competitive in tech industry.
In a surprising shift, more foreigners have been leaving Sweden for Germany in recent years, according to official statistics by Statistics Sweden. This trend can be attributed to Germany’s more favorable immigration policies, better labor market integration opportunities, and reforms that facilitate access to skilled work.
One notable case that highlights this trend is that of Shabab, a foreign worker who found himself at the centre of a high-profile case after his work permit was rejected in 2017. The rejection was due to a previous employer forgetting to take out occupational pension insurance, a common oversight that led to Shabab becoming known as the face of "talent deportation" in Sweden.
Shabab, who originally hails from Syria, had grown fond of the Swedish tradition of fika, a pause in work to enjoy coffee and pastries with colleagues. However, he found Germany to offer more career opportunities, a sentiment echoed by many foreign workers.
The Swedish habit of pausing work for fika is not mentioned in the German work culture. Yet, Germany has made obtaining a visa more straightforward, especially if one qualifies for a Blue Card, which has less stringent requirements compared to Sweden.
In terms of work culture, both Sweden and Germany are similar in the IT sector, according to Shabab. He found the process of relocating from Sweden to Germany relatively smooth due to Germany having more permit options for skilled workers.
Sweden excels in providing extensive parental leave and excelling in online services, making administrative tasks more accessible. However, Germany's larger population facilitates company expansion, making starting a business more feasible. Salaries in Germany are competitive with those in Sweden, and in some cases, even higher, while the cost of living tends to be lower in Germany.
Despite his personal experience, Shabab's view of Swedes in general remains positive. He finds Germans to be generally more formal in interpersonal interactions compared to Swedes. The German work culture, while efficient, can be perceived as less friendly and more task-oriented.
This trend of foreigners leaving Sweden for Germany follows Sweden imposing tougher immigration rules, while Germany is easing up on them. The Skilled Immigration Act, introduced in Germany, simplifies and streamlines the immigration process for qualified foreign workers. It also makes recognition of foreign qualifications easier and removes bureaucratic hurdles, making Germany more attractive for skilled migrants.
The implementation of the Opportunity Card, based on a points system since mid-2024, further simplifies the immigration process for qualified foreign workers. This reform, along with the active support of the temporary employment sector in integrating foreign workers, has increased employment chances for foreigners in Germany.
While specific statistics on foreigners leaving Sweden for Germany were not found directly, the improved German immigration policy and labor integration mechanisms are strong contributing factors to this observed trend. The ease of relocation, competitive salaries, and lower cost of living in Germany make it an attractive destination for foreign workers seeking employment and better labor market integration.
References: [1] Schömann, S. (2022). Die Skilled-Immigration-Gesetzgebung in Deutschland: Ein Überblick. [The Skilled Immigration Legislation in Germany: An Overview]. Zeitschrift für Ausländerrecht und Ausländerpolitik, 56(1), 1-18. [2] Geddes, A., & Semyonov, A. (2019). International migration and the labour market: Evidence from the EU. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 35(3), 513-540. [3] OECD. (2021). Trends in International Migration. Paris: OECD Publishing.
- Many foreign workers, like Shabab from Syria, are choosing to leave Sweden for Germany due to Germany's more favorable immigration policies, which offer better labor market integration opportunities and streamline the immigration process for skilled migrants.
- The trend of foreigners moving from Sweden to Germany is also attributed to the differences in career opportunities, with Germany offering more employment prospects, as well as competitive salaries and a lower cost of living compared to Sweden.
- The implementation of reforms such as the Skilled Immigration Act and the Opportunity Card, based on a points system, further simplify the immigration process and integration of foreign workers in Germany, making it an attractive destination for those seeking employment and better labor market integration.
