Up until recently, the main draws of Jena in eastern Germany were its world-class universities, top research institutes, and high-tech businesses. For these reasons alone, the city has attracted many foreign professionals. Yet the political environment in Jena and the wider Thuringia region is now changing-and not just for foreign workers and businesses alike.
Thuringia, once a significant part of former East Germany, finds itself overwhelmed lately by developments in its current political and social climate. With an election looming, there has been a certain unease brewing due to the push by the far-right party AfD Alternative for Germany. The AfD has emphasized hardline opposition to immigration, which helped it gain recent traction in Thuringia; it now maintains an almost 30% lead over other mainstream parties.
The shift is raising some eyebrows, mainly for foreign workers and companies dependent on a diverse workforce. Where business prides itself on innovation and international reach, such as those in Jena, the effects of this policy are slowly being felt.
A case in point is the world-leading optics company headquartered in the city that has developed cutting-edge technology for various international projects, including NASA’s Perseverance rover on Mars. That workforce has also included a very high percentage of highly qualified foreigners, but now many of them are uneasy about remaining in Thuringia with the AfD in such a dominant position and hostile to immigrants and minorities.
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According to the company’s leadership in private, it’s precisely this social situation that could make it more difficult for AfD to recruit and maintain international talent, which is essential for ongoing success. More people who are reconsidering coming to work for them are now for fear of personal or professional discrimination.
The same is replicated in other industries in the region, as skilled labor is becoming increasingly scarce in Germany as a whole. With an already aging population and shrinking workforce, estimates among experts put the number of skilled immigrants at 400,000 that actually need to enter the country annually to keep the economy healthy.
Immigration has been the lifeline of businesses in Thuringia but also contributed to the rise of the AfD. With net migration at a record high of 663,000 people coming in 2023 alone, the anti-immigrant Rhetoric of the AfD falls on very fertile ground with a large section of the population. In poorer regions like Thuringia, with few economic opportunities, these sentiments are most palpable..
But the AfD position has also unsettled investors and business leaders, not just the foreign workers. In a recent poll of more than 900 German companies, many see AfD’s growing influence as a risk to investment in this region. The presence of anti-immigration and anti-diversity political forces could ward off business establishments or expansions in Thuringia and further worsen its economic situation.
The AfD’s rhetoric also drew attention to its inflammatory stances on Germany’s history. The party has advocated a “180-degree turn” in how the country remembers its past regarding the era of Nazism. This adds a further layer of unease for businesses and individuals who value Germany’s post-war commitment to democracy and human rights.
Due to these problems, there have been local initiatives that have emerged to promote diversity and tolerance in the region. One reaction to this has been to develop a network of Cosmopolitan Thuringia, with the aim to show divisive rhetoric and promote inclusion.
Today, the network has thousands of members from major businesses, working toward being able to show the advantages a diverse, multicultural workforce can create. Companies now showcase employees from all over the world, taking positive steps to bring out a global outlook as a driving force toward innovation.
Nevertheless, some of the foreigners in Jena have overcome these problems and have vowed to stick it out, joining others in this city in support of employers and friends alike. Thus, their democratic and inclusive values keep them here. In the larger political world, however, there is still a serious threat from larger political forces to this and other regions as places where global business and talent may be welcome.
We at DSS have sound knowledge of the complexities that foreign workers and companies face when a region is in the midst of change. We professionally guide these companies through their obstacles with the sourcing and placement of qualified professionals around the world. Whether the employer is seeking to retain a diverse and talented workforce or a skilled worker desiring new markets, we are here to help you find the right fit. Let DSS be your partner in overcoming workforce challenges and building a brighter, inclusive future for your business. You can contact us today at +91-11-40410000 or email enquiry@dss-hr.com for more information about our services.
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