New “Guest Workers” from Spain? Exploring Migration to Germany in the Context of Economic and Societal Change

Abstract

The article examines the recent migration processes from Spain to Germany in the context of the economic and financial crisis. Even though the German and Spanish media often stress the history of guest worker migration, past and recent migration processes have hardly anything in common. I argue that the profound political and economic reforms after the end of Franco regime laid the ground for today's migration. The demographic transformation, societal liberalization and the expansion of educational involvement are important frame elements for the emigration of young and mostly well-educated Spaniards. From the German perspective, the recent migration processes are more than welcome, given that demographic ageing already created shortages in certain segments of the labour market. Only since the recent decade, the state administration shifted its policies from hindering and controlling immigration towards the aim of shaping migration. In this context, initiatives and programs were created to support mobility of labour force from those southern European countries that were severely hit by the financial and economic crisis. An analysis of Eurobarometer data and own survey data from a survey among Spanish language students showed increasing mobility intentions, especially among those respondents who are facing economic hardship and unemployment. But also generally, mobility intentions are high, as a stay abroad is meanwhile perceived as important step in the personal and career development. Germany as destination country has a very positive image from the perspective of respondents, especially concerning transparency and fairness in the labour market. For both countries, Germany and Spain, the long-term orientation of (prospective) migrants will be crucial, that is, whether they will settle permanently in the destination country, return to their country of origin or pursue a transnational lifestyle.