ROME, 2025-06-19 19:32:00 – Immigration’s impact is reshaping economies across Europe, with some nations seeing significant growth fueled by an influx of new residents, while others grapple with the complex challenges of demographic decline.
Countries are taking different approaches to immigration to address labor shortages and aging populations, resulting in varied economic outcomes.
- Germany reduced citizenship requirements to attract skilled workers.
- Spain attributes 40% of its economic growth to immigration.
- Italy faces declining birth rates and an increase in emigration.
How is immigration impacting Europe’s economic landscape? The topic of immigration is currently under intense scrutiny, as leaders weigh its effects on workforce shortages and population aging.
Germany’s Citizenship Shift
Germany is actively trying to bolster its workforce. The number of elderly workers in Germany has quadrupled since 2004, with over 1.1 million people aged 67 still employed last year, 51,000 more than in 2023. To help fill this gap, Germany is looking to immigrants.
The previous government, led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, reduced the time needed to obtain citizenship from eight to five years, aiming to attract more specialized workers. Economist Martin Werding suggests that if Germany welcomes 200,000 new immigrants annually, the country could see “substantial additional revenues” due to the younger age and contributions of immigrants.
Spain’s Growth Story
Spain’s economy is heavily influenced by immigration. In 2024, the population exceeded 49 million, with a net increase of 450,000 residents. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez commented in December 2024 that “40% of current growth could be attributed to immigration, which supports consumption in particular.” Notably, in the past year, 88% of the 470,000 newly created jobs went to foreign residents or those with dual citizenship.
Italy’s Demographic Challenges
Italy faces a contrasting situation with its birth rate. In 2024, 370,000 children were born, a decrease from the previous year and half a million less than a decade prior, marking the sixteenth consecutive year of decline. Furthermore, 191,000 Italians moved abroad in 2024, 20.5% more than in 2023.
