Luxembourg sees resurgence in German cross-border commuters

The number of German cross-border commuters working in Luxembourg is seeing a resurgence following a two-year decline. According to data from the statistical office Statec, employment among French, Belgian, and German commuters grew at a rate of 2.4 percent through June of this year, nearly double the 1.5 percent growth rate seen among local Luxembourgish workers.

While French commuters have historically driven the growth in the cross-border workforce, with approximately 128,000 individuals, the trend for German workers is shifting. After a period of decrease, Statec reported a slight increase in German commuters as of early this year. Currently, there are approximately 50,400 German commuters and 50,500 Belgian commuters in the Grand Duchy.

This comeback comes despite previous criticisms from German workers regarding tax, social security, and labor law regulations, as well as logistical challenges such as traffic congestion and rail service limitations. Stefan Pelger, President of the German-Luxembourgish Economic Initiative (DLWI), noted that the trend serves as a positive signal, reflecting the continued strength of the Luxembourgish labor market.