If given the chance would you emigrate to Germany

With France, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain and Cyprus still teetering on the brink and the former Soviet bloc countries seemingly cold and inhospitable, what about Germany?

Survey after survey seems to indicate that more and more Brits would be happy to pack their bags and migrate to their favourite sunny spot elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, neighbouring countries which were once expat favourites are slipping down the popularity lists due to economic uncertainty and the tightening of laws making life difficult for foreign residents.

Germany, the strongest of the once all-powerful group of European nations, hasn’t been top of the expat popularity poll at any time, but at present it’s beginning to be seen as the most stable option, especially for those still young enough to find work. The much-publicised demographic disaster caused by declining birth rates has hit hard there as well, but the country is an island of prosperity compared to its neighbours.

The downside is the historical German resistance against foreign labour, as well as its old-fashioned prejudice against working mothers no matter how desperate the need. As a result, the country’s labour pool is shrinking fast, aided and abetted by ageing native workers and a declining fertility rate.

At present, those in the know see no option but to attempt to change entrenched German value systems, attitudes and customs as an addition to heavy spending aimed at avoiding the many predictions of doom and gloom. Adventurous would-be expats from the UK should perhaps examine the possibilities of a move to Germany, especially if a good job is offered.