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Wido Geis-Thöne IW-Trends No. 4 14. December 2020 The Highly Qualified Move More Frequently Between Regions: An Analysis of Socio-economic Aspects of Internal Migration Based on the Microcensus

Very little is yet known about the socio-economic aspects of internal migration, as migration statistics report merely age, sex, nationality and where the move was to and from. Only since the 2017 survey has the German microcensus included a compulsory question regarding place of residence the previous year, making it useful for studies on internal migration.

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An Analysis of Socio-economic Aspects of Internal Migration Based on the Microcensus
Wido Geis-Thöne IW-Trends No. 4 14. December 2020

The Highly Qualified Move More Frequently Between Regions: An Analysis of Socio-economic Aspects of Internal Migration Based on the Microcensus

IW-Trends

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

Very little is yet known about the socio-economic aspects of internal migration, as migration statistics report merely age, sex, nationality and where the move was to and from. Only since the 2017 survey has the German microcensus included a compulsory question regarding place of residence the previous year, making it useful for studies on internal migration.

Multivariate analyses show that, all other things being equal, graduates and undergraduates move between government regions (NUTS2) much more frequently than those with less academic educational backgrounds. In contrast, parents move much less often than the childless. Internal migration is altering not only the demographic but also the socio-economic make-up of Germany’s regions. For example, according to an extrapolation based on the microcensus and migration statistics, from 2014 to 2018 the government region of Upper Bavaria managed to attract a net total of around 69,000 undergraduates and graduates between the ages of 18 and 49. The other regions surrounding large metropolises also benefited strongly from internal migration, with the more rural areas suffering corresponding losses. Not only the magnitude but also, to some extent, the direction of migration is different from that for all 18- to 49-year-olds, making it clear that the migration statistics in their current form are an inadequate monitoring tool for internal migration. IW-Trends – Vierteljahresschrift zur empirischen Wirtschaftsforschung aus dem Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln e.V., 47. Jahrgang,

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An Analysis of Socio-economic Aspects of Internal Migration Based on the Microcensus
Wido Geis-Thöne IW-Trends No. 4 14. December 2020

Wido Geis-Thöne: Hochqualifizierte wechseln häufiger die Region – Eine Analyse auf Basis des Mikrozensus zu sozioökonomischen Aspekten der Binnenwanderung

IW-Trends

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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Immigration can compensate for ageing
Alexander Burstedde / Jurek Tiedemann IW-Report No. 33 9. August 2024

IW labor market forecast 2027: Immigration can compensate for ageing

This study is the annual update of the IW labor market extrapolation with data up to 2022. The methodology is described in detail by Burstedde (2023). The update shows how employment and skilled labor shortages could develop during the next five years if the ...

IW

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Wido Geis-Thöne IW-Report No. 22 4. May 2024

Securing skilled workers through immigration to universities

Against the backdrop of demographic change, Germany is increasingly dependent on skilled labour from abroad to secure growth and prosperity.

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