A Reuters feature published in the early hours of 19 September 2026 shines a spotlight on the human side of Germany’s immigration debate. Speaking to 20 long-term migrants in Rostock and Schwerin, the report finds that many feel less welcome as the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) surges ahead of regional elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Among the interviewees are Syrian and Iraqi professionals who arrived under Germany’s humanitarian admission programme and now hold jobs in education, healthcare and hospitality—sectors suffering acute labour shortages. Yet some are weighing relocation to western states or even leaving Germany entirely after encountering verbal abuse and social exclusion. The timing is significant for employers relying on the reformed Skilled Immigration Act, which lowers salary thresholds for EU Blue Cards and introduces the ‘Opportunity Card’ points system. If xenophobic rhetoric deters qualified candidates, Germany’s quest to fill an estimated 400,000 annual workforce gap could falter, undermining productivity in export-driven industries from shipbuilding to biotech. Several HR heads contacted by Reuters expressed concern that anti-immigrant sentiment complicates retention. One automotive supplier in Schwerin reported a 12 % attrition rate among foreign engineers this year, citing family concerns about schooling and neighbourhood safety. While AfD leaders insist they support “qualified” immigration, their broader “remigration” narrative may blur the distinction for the general public. Mobility managers should monitor employee-wellbeing surveys, offer cultural-integration support and be prepared to relocate key staff should local tensions escalate. For global HQs, the episode is a reminder that immigration policy does not operate in a vacuum; social acceptance remains a critical success factor.
Source: Reuters via Investing.com
