Lack of workers hurting German economy

BERLIN, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- A lack of skilled workers moving into Germany and a drop in foreign students in German universities are dragging down Europe's largest economy.

A recent study indicated that 23,400 workers moved to Germany in 2007, around 30 percent less than the number of workers who moved there in 2006, Deutsche Welle reported. The number of foreign students attending German universities dropped 3,000 to 31,400 in 2007, the report said.

And in 2006, German emigration reached its highest level since 1956.

"When even German's don't want to stay here, it's no surprise that foreign specialists aren't attracted," opposition party parliamentarian Volker Wissing told Deutsche Welle.

Wissing blamed the government's reluctance to embrace modern technology, the country's "under financed," healthcare and the tax system for Germany's decreased attraction to skilled workers.

The government estimated unfilled jobs cost Germany $26.8 million a year. Another study showed that Germany would have a shortfall of 95,000 engineers and 135,000 scientists by 2014.