A new study by the German Economic Institute IW, has revealed some critical insights into the role of foreign workers in Germany’s eastern federal states. The study concludes that non-German workers are simply ‚indispensable‘ for the region’s economy. As of 2023, over 403,000 foreign nationals were employed in the five eastern states — an increase of 173,000 in just five years. These workers alone contributed a massive 24.6 billion euros to the local economy, representing about 5.8 percent of the region’s total gross value creation. Even more striking, the report found that between 2018 and 2023, the number of working Germans in the area dropped by 116,000. This makes foreign workers even more crucial for economic sustainability. Study co-author Wido Geis-Thröne emphasized the importance of keeping eastern Germany open to international talent, saying it’s the only way the economy there can continue to thrive.
