Is Germany facing a ‘confidence drain’ among young people?

Young people aren’t leaving the country in droves—but more of them are questioning whether they should stay.

Dear Reader,

Drawn in by its economic opportunities, relative stability and central location in Europe—Germany remains the world’s second-largest destination for migrants.

In response to growing demand, the country is expanding its infrastructure for immigration. Alongside nearly 550 immigration offices, the Bundesrepublik is preparing to launch a fully digital “Work-and-Stay Agency” designed to make it easier and faster for non-EU nationals to settle in the country.

At the same time, many younger Germans themselves seem increasingly open to leaving.

A recent “Youth in Germany” trend study found that 40 percent of Germans aged 14 to 29 can imagine moving abroad, with around one in five saying they have concrete plans to do so. The figures don’t exactly point to a mass exodus. But they do raise an important question: whether Germany is beginning to los…