A survey by Appinio for Indeed shows that two thirds of employees in Germany are considering a job abroad.
The survey of 1000 employees aged 16 to 66 took place from 8 to 11 May 2026. One third of participants has already made concrete inquiries. The most popular destinations are the USA, Great Britain and Switzerland.
High earners with a household income above 6000 euros net show particular interest. About half of this group has already applied abroad or is exploring the market. However, most want to leave only for months or years and not permanently.
Main motives are better pay and quality of life, each cited by more than 50 percent. More than 40 percent hope for lower taxes and levies. Only a quarter sees better career opportunities as a reason.
Indeed economist Virginia Sondergeld warned that interest in going abroad should be seen as a sign of dissatisfaction with conditions in Germany. She called on politicians and employers to create incentives to stay.