Biggest brain drain in Germany since 1954

• Tweet

BERLIN, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Germany is losing its best young brains because they are emigrating to countries where they can make more money or enjoy better working conditions.

Some 145,000 people in 2005 emigrated from Germany to other countries, the highest emigration total since 1954, according to latest numbers.

Mainly young and well-educated people leave Germany, often for better working conditions, such as scientists researching in the United States; a higher pay check, like teachers working in Switzerland; or better chances to quickly find a job, for example in many of the Scandinavian countries.

The German brain drain has worried experts.

"More than half of those who leave Germany are younger than 35," Ludwig Georg Braun, the president of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, told Die Welt newspaper. "Many qualified and highly motivated people are among those emigrants. That should sound the alarm."