Labour Markets and Social Security
In the IAW research area of Labour Markets and Social Security, some of the most important research topics are the following:
Quantitative and qualitative evaluation research
- Evaluation of active and passive labour market policies
- Evaluation of other policies and programmes
- Linkage of quantitative and qualitative evaluation research
- Process evaluation and monitoring
Firms’ employment needs
- Demographic change and manpower requirements
- Shortage of skilled workers
- Employer participation in vocational and continuing training
- Programms to enhance the compatibility of family and work
- Occupational and job mobility of university graduates
- Regional labour markets
Labour market effects of internationalisation
- Effects of internationalisation on the quantity and quality of employment
- Shifting of tasks between locations (trade in tasks)
- Migration and spatial mobility of workers
- Repercussions of internationalisation on labour market institutions such as collective bargaining
Wage setting and collective bargaining
- Evolution of wages, wage dispersion, and wage distribution
- Characteristics and impact of collective wage agreements
- Use of opening clauses and their effects on wages and firm performance
Social protection, poverty, and wealth
- Poverty and wealth reporting, definition of non-monetary poverty measures
- Educational opportunities for disadvantaged youths
- Educational opportunities and educational background
- Evaluation of programmes for disadvantaged youths
Main features of the IAW’s research approach are the following:
- Data competence, including development of new, more complex data sources, linking of different data bases, and realisation of surveys
- Extensive institutional knowledge of the German labour market, as well as social and educational policies
- Excellent contacts with political and societal actors in the labour market
- Close connection to German and international labour market research
- Smooth linkage of qualitative and quantitative approaches
- Competence in cutting-edge research methods