Regional Disparities in Employment of High-Skilled Foreigners – Determinants and Options for Labour Migration Policy in Germany

Abstract

We investigate the regional disparities in high-skilled foreign employment in Germany. The importance of different factors that influence highly qualified migrants' decision to migrate to specific regions and especially the role of labour migration policy is analysed. Our results show that labour market variables and the supply of tertiary education are important for the location choice. Based on these empirical results, we discuss options of decentralised labour migration policy in Germany.Résumé Nous nous penchons sur les disparités régionales dans les emplois étrangers à niveau élevé de compétences en Allemagne. Nous analysons, d'une part, l'importance de divers facteurs qui influencent la décision des immigrants hautement spécialisés de migrer vers des régions spécifiques et, d'autre part, la politique relative à la migration de travail. Nos résultats indiquent que le choix de lieu est fortement influencé par les variables du marché du travail et par la disponibilité de l'enseignement de troisième niveau. En nous appuyant sur ces résultats, nous discutons les possibilités d'une politique décentralisée en matière de migration de travail en Allemagne.

Migration and innovation: Does cultural diversity matter for regional R&D activity?

“…As migration occurs primarily across shorter distances and is influenced by herd behaviour (see Bauer et al. 2002; Burkert et al. 2008), cultural diversity in a region is likely to affect future diversity in neighbouring areas.…”

Skilled German Migrants and Their Motives for Migration Within Europe

“…First, very little research has been done in the area either in Germany or elsewhere. Traditionally, research has mainly addressed migration by low-skilled workers-for example, the "classical" intra-European migration in the 1960s and 1970s (Bade 1987;Castles 1986;Fassmann and Münz 1994;Fielding 1993;King 1993;Krane 1979;Zimmermann 2005)-or by highly qualified manpower (Ackers 2005;Beaverstock 2005;Burkert et al 2008;Cheng and Yang 1998;Findlay et al 1996;Gijsel and Janssen 2000;Peixoto 2001;Salt and Ford 1993). Secondly, the group we are investigating is sociologically relevant because skilled workers and technicians are crucial to the German economy; they are the very backbone of the manufacturing industry.…”

The German Labour Market

“…Such services could also be developed in 20. Burkert et al (2008) show evidence for discretion in permits attribution in Germany.…”