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Illustrative picture for the European Labour Market Barometer

The leading indicator of the European Network of Public Employment Services and the IAB fell by 0.1 points to 99.9 points compared with the previous month. The European labour markets still lack a clear direction at the start of the year.

Man wearing a high-visibility vest and helmet is loading a box into a delivery truck.

27.01.2026

IAB topic

Minimum wage

How does the level at which the minimum wage is set, in combination with other factors, affect supply and demand in the labour market? We have compiled a list of IAB publications and projects for you that explore these and other questions.

News

28. January 2026

European Labour Market Barometer: European labour markets remain subdued

The European Labour Market Barometer dropped slightly in January.

22. January 2026

Video – New data shows: Germany is often just a stopover

Why do so many plan to leave - and what could make them stay? Researchers at the IAB surveyed over 50,000 people - and the results are eye-opening.

Construction worker resting on concrete reinforcing bars.

15. January 2026

Minimum wage and job reallocation: The hidden role of financial constraints

The introduction of Germany’s minimum wage in 2015 triggered large shifts in the composition and allocation of types of employment.

Kennungsbild für das European Labour Market Barometer

30. December 2025

The European Labour Market Barometer drops to 100 points

Throughout the year, the European Labour Market Barometer was on a stabilizing course, but there was a slight setback at the end of the year.

Nahaufnahme eines Mannes, der vor einem Notizbuch sitzt und mit dem Kugelschreiber auf verschieden hohe Münzstapel zeigt. Der Fokus liegt auf der Hand mit dem Kugelschreiber.

18. December 2025

The Impact of the Minimum Wage on Initial Labour Market Outcomes

The minimum wage does not harm the education-to-work transition, but impacts the mix of both – firms and occupations in the labour market.

26. November 2025

European Labour Market Barometer rises above 100 for the first time since mid-2023

The European Labour Market Barometer has climbed above the neutral mark of 100 points for the first time since mid-2023.

Steward at the edge of the soccer field.

23. October 2025

The role of physical leisure activities in refugees’structural integration

This study investigates the role of engaging in physical leisure activities in facilitating refugees’ structural integration.

Geschmackvoll gekleidete ältere Frau mit Brille und grauen Haaren arbeitet im Büro an einem Computer.

14. October 2025

Retirement Age Reforms and Worker Substitutability: Implications for Employment of Older Workers

This paper studies how labor demand factors shape employment responses to a rise in the early retirement age.

Seniorin arbeitet am Computer vor einem Bücherregal

13. October 2025

Peer Effects in Old‑Age Employment Among Women

This paper studies how labor demand factors shape employment responses to a rise in the early retirement age.

A young woman stands in front of a blue wall with columns of numbers and curves.

1. October 2025

Ethical Integration in Public Sector AI

This IAB-Discussion Paper addresses the ethical design of artificial intelligence in the public sector.

All News

Minimum wage

Since the Minimum Wage Act came into force in Germany on 1 January 2015, a general statutory minimum wage has applied across the country. The establishment of a statutory minimum wage has been a contentious issue, with recurrent deliberations ongoing regarding its precise level. The most recent rise, on 1 January 2026, saw the figure rise from €12.82 to €13.90, representing an increase of 8.4 per cent. In the public debate, demands for an increase in the minimum wage to €15 have been a recurring theme.

How does the statutory minimum wage affect pay and employment? How does the level at which the minimum wage is set, in combination with other factors, affect supply and demand in the labour market? And what consequences might this have for distribution, hardship, social inclusion, productivity, prices, competition, working conditions, and company structures?

We have compiled a list of current IAB publications and projects on a dedicated page that are related to the subject of the minimum wage.