New immigration regions: How rural areas can attract and retain international skilled workers

A population decline of 20.5 per cent is forecast for the Burgenlandkreis district in Saxony-Anhalt by 2040. By 2025, 11 per cent of employees subject to social insurance contributions were already foreign nationals. However, many of them are on fixed-term contracts, working as agency staff or in jobs below their qualifications. 

Furthermore, the article highlights deep-rooted path dependencies: as there was virtually no permanent immigration in the GDR, migrant networks are still lacking today. Immigrants are therefore more likely to be drawn to large cities. Furthermore, around a third of immigrants in Saxony-Anhalt are considering moving away, primarily due to a lack of a welcoming culture, discrimination and a lack of a social network.

The Burgenland district has already implemented various measures that the research team also recommends. For example, in 2018 the district set up a migration agency where the immigration authorities, the jobcentre, the youth welfare office and social security services work together under one roof. Around 70 stakeholders from the public sector, business and civil society exchange ideas within an integration network. A Migration Council also brings the experiences of immigrants into the work of the local authorities. In the CareerPaths pilot project, immigrants get to know local businesses. Some companies also offer language courses with sector-specific content and flexible working hours.

At the same time, the research team identifies a further need for action. This includes, amongst other things, simpler recognition procedures, greater multilingualism within the public sector and more effective protection against discrimination. The approaches taken so far thus highlight both existing structures and areas where improvements are still possible. The conclusion: immigration alone cannot solve the skills shortage. Successful integration requires collaboration between the public sector, the business community and civil society.

This article was produced using data from the Interreg Europe project MILEstone (Migrants’ Integration in Local Economies).