Differences in wages - Foreign workers at a salary disadvantage, according to Kruppa.
Mirjam Kruppa, the Migration Commissioner for Thuringia, highlighted a concerning issue - the pay gap between foreign workers and their German counterparts. According to a study conducted by the Minor Institute, in 2022, foreign skilled workers in Thuringia were paid 16% less than their German counterparts on average. The disparity widened further when comparing foreign workers' salaries to those of German women, with the former earning 22.6% less. Kruppa emphasized that this difference becomes even more pronounced in industries where wages are lower to begin with.
Kruppa expressed concern over the impact these wage disparities have on migrants, stating that they may look for better prospects elsewhere. As Thuringia's population is aging and the region depends on immigration to counterbalance this demographic shift, this issue is of particular significance to her. The next Thuringian Migration and Integration Report, set to be published in August 2024, will include more data on this issue.
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Foreign workers in Thuringia's capital, Erfurt, might consider migrating to areas offering better wage opportunities due to the substantial salary difference between them and their German counterparts. This wage disparity, emphasized by Migration Commissioner Kruppa, is further evident in lower-wage industries, making it challenging for foreign workers to maintain a balance in Thuringia.
