Wolff, Richard V.Richard V.Wolff0000-0003-1267-3512Struck, OlafOlafStruck0000-0002-7631-6365Osiander, ChristopherChristopherOsiander2025-07-282025-07-2820252510-5027https://fis.uni-bamberg.de/handle/uniba/109271Labour migration is of great economic and social importance. We use a factorial survey experiment to analyse under which criteria predominantly employed citizens approve of immigration of skilled workers from outside the EU to Germany. The criteria of the German Skilled Immigration Act for Qualifed Professionals and procedural rules for checking qualifcations as well as alternatives frequently discussed in the political sphere are taken into account. We fnd that the willingness to accept labour migrants is positively associated with (a) migrants having a defnitive job ofer, (b) holding (certifed) professional qualifcations and (c) the presence of skilled worker shortages in an industry. The vast majority of citizens favour the provisions of the act. They would also accept even less rigorous checks on qualifcations.engFactorial survey experimentLabour marketOccupational closureOnline surveyQualifcations320article10.1186/s12651-025-00402-4