Without immigration, the working-age population in the eastern German states will shrink significantly. The German Economic Institute (IW) has calculated that by 2045, more than one-fifth—or 22.4 percent—of the potential workforce would be lost. Nationwide, the figure stands at 17.4 percent. People between the ages of 15 and 66 are considered to be of working age.
According to the IW, approximately 7.7 million people of working age currently live in eastern Germany. Without immigration, this number would drop to around 6 million, the economic research institute reported. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt would be particularly hard hit.
