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Immigration from the new EU member states Bulgaria and Romania ,
There are 454,000 people from Bulgaria and Romania living in Germany
EU2 nationals represent a strongly expanding group among newly-arrived immigrants in Germany. The number of Bulgarian nationals living in Germany almost quadrupled between 2004 and 2013 (+275 percent), with the number of Romanian nationals rising by 265 percent. A further increase was observed over the first few months of 2014. By the end of April 2014 there were 159,000 Bulgarians and 295,000 Romanians living in Germany.
Reasons for migration
Most immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, choose to leave their home country for economic reasons, primarily the less attractive professional opportunities and lower wages in the EU2 countries. Since 2014, the principle of the free movement of workers within the EU has also applied in full to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, with the result that they can travel to Germany to look for work without any restrictions.
However, alongside legal and economic factors, existing networks also play an important role for newly-arrived immigrants, helping them to gain a foothold in their new home. Even before the labour market was fully opened up to them, various groups of immigrants from the two countries came to Germany, particularly ethnic German repatriates in the early 1990s, as well as students, academics and family members. Additionally, many Bulgarians and Romanians were able to build up good contacts with employers in Germany, as well as in Italy and Spain, during periods of seasonal work.
The changing directions of migration
Until 2010 Italy and Spain were the main destination countries for migrants from Bulgaria and Romania. The southern European labour markets needed workers for their agricultural and construction sectors in particular. However, this demand collapsed in the wake of the financial and economic crisis, resulting in a significant fall in the net number of Bulgarians and Romanians migrating to Spain and Italy. At the same time, employment levels in Germany were rising, resulting in an influx of Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants, some of whom had previously been living in Italy and Spain.
Most immigrants are keen to find a job and are young and well educated
In the first four months following the introduction of full freedom of movement for the EU2 in 2014, the number of Bulgarians and Romanians in employment subject to social security contributions, at around +52,000, actually grew more strongly than the total number of Bulgarians and Romanians living in Germany (+40,000). As well as newly-arrived immigrants, many EU2 nationals have taken up employment after having already lived in Germany but without having been in regular employment or after having been self-employed.
In Germany, around 95 percent of newly-arrived immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania are of working age, i.e. between the ages of 18 and 65. In terms of region, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia have been the main beneficiaries, with agriculture/forestry, services and hospitality, and healthcare being the main sectors affected. In terms of the qualifications of 25 to 44-year-old EU2 citizens, the 2011 microcensus shows that a high number hold a university degree, although this figure is somewhat lower (21 percent) among those Bulgarians and Romanians who have migrated to Germany since 2007 (EU accession) compared with those who arrived before 2007 (24 percent).
Rising employment levels, but also increasing transfer payments
Given the strong rise in the number of immigrants of working age from Romania and Bulgaria, the number of EU2 nationals in employment subject to social security contributions has risen by 134 percent in the period between 2011 and 2014. However, this has also increased the risk of becoming unemployed, which is why the number of those registered as unemployed has grown by 179 percent, with the number of recipients of unemployment benefit (SGB II) from these countries up by 188 percent. A closer look at the figures reveals that the proportion of people receiving unemployment benefits and transfer payments is almost twice as high among Bulgarian nationals as among Romanians.
For the first time, this research report takes an in-depth look at immigration as well as the basic parameters in the countries of origin and the relevant destination countries Germany, Italy and Spain in the context of the EU's eastward enlargement and against the background of the financial and economic crisis.
The report is only available in German.
Authors of the research report: Elisa Hanganu, Dr. Stephan Humpert and Dr. Martin Kohls