More than six years after the peak of the so-called migration crisis, Germans' view of migrant immigration has continued to improve.

A study by the Bertelsmann Foundation in Gütersloh has shown that more than two thirds of those surveyed, 68 percent, believe that immigration brings advantages for the establishment of international companies.

65 percent of those surveyed hope that society will age less, 55 percent hope that immigration will compensate for the shortage of skilled workers and 48 percent even hope that there will be additional income for pension insurance.

For the first time, approval has reached levels similar to those before the migration crisis in the summer of 2015. The Bertelsmann Foundation conducts the survey every two years.

Kim Bjorn Becker

Editor in Politics.

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However, respondents also confirmed negative attributions.

Although these were somewhat less severe than two years ago, they are still in some cases significantly higher than before the crisis.

67 percent of those questioned fear that immigration will lead to burdens on the welfare state, 66 percent expect conflicts between immigrants and locals.

More than half assume that immigration is associated with problems in schools.

The authors of the study also saw no decrease in concerns about housing shortages in metropolitan areas, which 59 percent of those surveyed still associated with immigration.

Students more respected than refugees

Project manager Orkan Kösemen is nonetheless optimistic about the results of the survey.

"The relationship between the German population and migration has continuously improved since the peak of the 'refugee crisis' in 2015, and the focus is increasingly on the opportunities offered by immigration," he said.

"Concerns and doubts are still widespread and require answers from society as a whole."

At the same time, the acceptance of immigrants obviously depends on what motivates them to come to Germany.

According to the respondents, foreign students are more often well received than refugees.

According to the study, the willingness to take in refugees has increased again.

Most recently, only 36 percent of those surveyed took the view that Germany could not take in more refugees because it was at its breaking point.

Four years ago, in the first survey after the peak of the crisis, 54 percent said so.

For the study, the opinion research institute Kantar-Emnid interviewed people aged 14 and over in Germany in 2013.

The data were collected in early November.