economy
April 1, 2026
Economic experts react strongly to Merz's statement: Returning 80% of Syrians to their homeland would be a blow to the German economy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement that his goal is the repatriation of 80 percent of Syrians in the next three years has caused turbulent comments in public and across the political spectrum, and economic experts have warned that this would cause serious damage to the economy and threaten its growth.
TL;DR
- Over 950,000 people of Syrian origin reside in Germany, with approximately 320,000 currently employed.
- Chancellor Merz's proposal to repatriate 80% of Syrians in three years has sparked controversy, with economic experts warning of severe economic repercussions.
- As of August 2025, 260,000 Syrians were permanently employed in Germany, with about 80,000 in hard-to-fill positions.
- An additional 21,000 young Syrians are studying in Germany, and 7,000 are in practical training.
- The study did not account for approximately 250,000 Syrians who obtained German citizenship between 2015 and 2024.
- The average age of Syrians in Germany is around 27, and they constitute a significant labor force reserve, especially given demographic changes and a shrinking working-age population.
- Regular work permits for individuals from third countries in 2024 (54,900) are insufficient to offset the retirement of the baby boomer generation.