The research project investigates the reasons to migrate and the social networks of German skilled workers. Recent research has focused mainly on migration from less developed countries and related problems of social integration or on the migration of highly skilled workers. This project, instead, sheds light on skilled labour migration from Germany to other European Union member states. The project seeks to answer the following questions: Which are the mains reasons and determinants of migration decisions of German skilled workers? Are there differences in motivations to migrate compared to the reasons to stay in a foreign country? How do the social networks of migrants influence the migration process and how do they change over time? Which kind of effect does the emergence of a European labour market (and specific labour market institutions) have on migration within Europe? Do German skilled workers belong to the group of transmigrants maintaining close relationships with their country of origin? These issues will be addressed by a panel study interviewing German skilled workers immediately before and a year after migration.

Project coordinators:

Steffen Mau, Roland Verwiebe

Funding:

Fritz Thyssen Foundation

Duration:

2006-2008