The solution will probably be to recruit more workers from overseas. But Germany has had a mixed record on tapping the tech industry’s global talent pool. And the rise of the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which is currently polling at 30 per cent in Saxony, could deter many foreigners from choosing to move there.
The state’s prime minister, Michael Kretschmer, denied it is a hostile place for foreigners. “People who come here, who want to work here and want to integrate into German society are very welcome,” he said in an interview.
But others worry about the effect the rise of AfD — and the continued activities of the xenophobic, anti-Muslim movement Pegida, which is particularly strong in Saxony — could have on the state’s image.
“There’s no question that the AfD is damaging Saxony’s attractiveness as a place to do business,” said Dulig.