Highly-skilled programmer, formerly based in Stockholm, affirms that Berlin offers a competitive wage structure for his trade.
Foreign Professionals Choosing Germany Over Sweden: A Closer Look
A trend has emerged in recent years with more foreign professionals choosing to move from Sweden to Germany. This shift is influenced by a combination of factors, including immigration policies, economic conditions, and social integration challenges.
Reasons Behind the Trend
- Immigration Policy Reforms: Sweden is in the process of reforming its single permit system, which will become more flexible starting in May 2026. The reforms aim to attract and retain foreign workers by decoupling work permits from specific employers or professions and allowing permit holders to stay unemployed for up to six months, as opposed to the current three months [1]. However, the transition period may create a sense of bureaucratic uncertainty for some professionals, potentially influencing their decisions.
- Economic Opportunities: Germany's large economy and labor market may offer a wider variety of opportunities in certain sectors, attracting foreign talent. Although migrants in Germany earn about 20% less than native-born residents, wage gaps close faster in Sweden [3].
- Social Integration: Both countries have liberal asylum and immigration policies, but concerns about ethnic profiling and structural racism persist. Germany has been criticized for mandatory reporting of undocumented migrants, creating fear in migrant communities [4]. Sweden, known for generous social policies, faces challenges in integrating migrants as well.
Impact of the Trend
The outflow of foreign talent from Sweden could impact Sweden’s efforts to address demographic decline and labor shortages that immigration partially addresses [2]. Germany's labor market may benefit from increased skilled migration, though wage disparities and integration hurdles remain significant [3]. Both countries face political and social challenges in balancing open immigration policies with societal concerns about migrants' economic competitiveness and social cohesion [2].
Comparative Immigration Policies
| Feature | Sweden | Germany | |--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | Single permit system | Reforming to decouple permits from employers and professions; longer unemployed retention (up to 6 months) after 2026 [1] | Traditional system with some reports of harsh enforcement on undocumented migrants [4] | | Asylum policy | Very liberal, highest per capita asylum grants in EU in 2014 [2] | Also generous asylum; pledged billions to support migrants since 2015 [2] | | Wage gap for migrants | Migrants experience wage disparities but closing faster over generations [3] | Migrants earn 20% less; slower closing of wage gap across generations [3] | | Ethnic profiling and racism| Criticized for structural racism in immigration enforcement [4] | Similar criticism; policies include mandated reporting of undocumented migrants [4] |
Case Study: Shabab
In 2017, Shabab, a tech professional, became known as the face of "talent deportation" in Sweden after his work permit was rejected due to his previous employer forgetting to take out occupational pension insurance. Following media attention, several similar incidents occurred. Shabab left Sweden and found new opportunities in Berlin. He finds the process of relocating from Sweden to Germany relatively smooth due to Germany having more permit options for skilled workers. However, Shabab has encountered situations where interactions with Germans can be more challenging and frustrating. He misses the tradition of fika from Sweden, which involves pausing work to enjoy a coffee and pastry with colleagues.
In conclusion, foreign professionals may be leaving Sweden for Germany due to perceived better immediate economic opportunities, pending immigration reform uncertainties in Sweden, and possibly integration experiences. Sweden aims to improve conditions with reforms in 2026, which could mitigate outflows in the future. Both countries face ongoing challenges in ensuring foreign professionals’ economic integration and social inclusion despite generous immigration regimes.
This analysis is based on recent policy updates and migration research through mid-2025 [1][2][3][4].
[1] Sweden's single permit system reform [2] Demographic and labor market challenges in Sweden [3] Wage disparities for migrants in Sweden and Germany [4] Ethnic profiling and racism in Germany and Sweden
- The immigration policy reforms in Sweden, such as the decoupling of work permits from specific employers or professions and the extended unemployment retention period, may not be attractive enough to counterbalance the bureaucratic uncertainty they create, causing some professionals to consider Germany as a more appealing destination.
- A flourishing technology sector, combined with a more welcoming culture that values practices like fika, could make Germany a more enticing location for foreign professionals in the tech industry, such as Shabab, who may find the integration process less challenging despite occasional frustrating interactions with Germans.
