Zitatform

Adăscăliței, Dragoș, Karel Fric, Guillermo Orfao & Tina Weber (2026): Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers – Addressing an ongoing policy challenge. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Luxembourg, 56 S. DOI:10.2806/5197522

Abstract

"Labour markets in the European Union (EU) have seen a marked rise in non-standard employment over the past two decades. While such arrangements can offer greater flexibility and better work–life balance, workers can be vulnerable when such arrangements are involuntary or when they combine multiple non-standard characteristics. This report conceptualises employment vulnerability through a multidimensional lens. It analyses the prevalence of vulnerability across the EU-27 from 2009 to 2021, its relation to working life and associated health outcomes. The findings show that women, young people, migrants and other disadvantaged groups are at higher risk of employment vulnerability. Workers experiencing multiple dimensions of vulnerability have poorer job prospects, limited access to training and development opportunities, less autonomy, a lower level of organisational participation and higher risks of anxiety and depression. In contrast, among workers who experience employment vulnerability in one area only, the effects on working life are mixed. The report also reviews EU and national policy responses, highlighting measures to strengthen contractual certainty, regulate precarious contracts and support the transition to secure employment while offering both flexibility and protection." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Akkermans, Jos, Daniel Spurk, Mina Beigi, Annabelle Hofer & Nele De Cuyper (2026): Navigating careers in non-traditional work: Toward a more context-sensitive and dynamic research agenda. In: Journal of vocational behavior, Jg. 168. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2026.104263

Abstract

"Non-traditional work arrangements, including freelance, gig, platform-based, and entrepreneurial work, have moved from the margins to the mainstream of contemporary labor markets. These arrangements offer flexibility, autonomy, and new opportunities for meaningful work, yet they also bring insecurity, fragmented career paths, and limited institutional support. This editorial introduction article makes the case for studying non-traditional careers. It then provides an integrative overview of the six special issue articles, which explore how individuals navigate careers in non-traditional work, addressing themes such as identity and aspiration, calling and purpose, sensemaking during career shocks, proactive coping and self-leadership, and the role of platforms and intermediaries. Across these contributions, two themes stand out: careers in non-traditional work are deeply context-bound, shaped by institutional, technological, and social environments that both enable and constrain individual agency; and they unfold temporally, through cycles of action, feedback, and adaptation. Building on these insights, we outline a research agenda calling for more context-sensitive and dynamic approaches to studying non-traditional careers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Authors. Published by ElsevierInc.) ((en))

Zitatform

Albinowski, Maciej & Agata Rozszczypała (2026): The long-term effects of underemployment shocks on voluntary part-time employment. (IBS working paper / Instytut Badan Strukturalnych 2026,03), Warszawa, 24 S.

Abstract

"This paper examines the long-term effects of underemployment shocks on part-time employment, with a particular focus on voluntary part-time work. We use regional datasets for the European Union and the United States covering the period 2006-2019. Our empirical strategy combines a difference-in-differences framework with a shift-share instrument for underemployment shocks. In the EU, underemployment shocks are driven not only by an increase in part-time employment, but also by a decrease in the share of part-time employees who are satisfied with their working hours. Underemployment shocks have persistent effects, including a lasting negative impact on voluntary part-time employment. A one percentage point increase in the underemployment rate leads to a voluntary part-time employment rate that is 0.28 percentage points lower five years later. These effects are particularly pronounced among non-tertiary-educated women and in Western Europe. In Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the US, we do not find statistically significant negative long-term effects of underemployment shocks on voluntary part-time employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Albinowski, Maciej (2026): What explains the East-West gap in part-time employment in Europe? (IBS working paper / Instytut Badan Strukturalnych 2026,01), Warszawa, 43 S.

Abstract

"I investigate differences in the incidence of part-time employment between Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries that have joined the EU since 2004 and Western European countries. I estimate employees probabilities of working part time based on observable characteristics, including capital income and market hourly wages. While labour force structure and economic development help explain more than half of the East-West gap in voluntary part-time employment, the remaining unexplained gap amounts to 10.6 percentage points for women and 1.0 percentage point for men. I find that progressivity in personal income taxation is a significant predictor of voluntary part-time employment, but has a limited impact on the unexplained East-West gap, reducing it by 0.7 percentage points for women and by 0.3 percentage points for men. The perceived importance of work and leisure time also have predictive power overall, but these social values do not explain the East-West gap. Moreover, full-time employees in CEE countries do not report stronger preferences for part-time employment than their Western European counterparts, suggesting that differences in working hours norms may play a more important role than hours constraints imposed by firms. Finally, evidence from German reunification supports the view that informal institutions may play a more important role than formal institutions, as the unexplained East-West gap in voluntary part-time employment gradually narrowed over time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Altamimi, Hala & Qiaozhen Liu (2026): Lower cost at a cost? The effects of flexible labour on non-profit operational outcomes. In: Public Management Review, Jg. 28, H. 7, S. 1924-1958. DOI:10.1080/14719037.2025.2526533

Abstract

"The rise of flexible labour promises cost savings and flexibility. However, empirical research examining the organizational consequences of this employment model remains limited. Our analysis of panel data (2008–2018) on non-profits in the U.S. shows that flexible labour negatively influences operational outcomes. This effect is pronounced when these workers are involved in core organizational functions. The findings suggest that the increasing reliance on flexible labour promotes a short-term transactional employment approach incompatible with the sector’s institutional, motivational, and relational context. We suggest avenues for better aligning flexible labour use with non-profits organizational values and mission." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Been, Jim, Marike Knoef & Heike Vethaak (2026): How Important is Selection into Full-time and Part-time Employment? A New Panel Data Sample Selection Model for Estimating Wage Profiles. In: Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, Jg. 44, H. 1, S. 215-226. DOI:10.1080/07350015.2025.2520851

Abstract

"The literature has shown that correcting for self-selection into work is important for the estimation of wage profiles. In this paper, we analyze to what extent intensive labor supply choices add valuable otherwise unobserved information to improve wage profile estimates. We develop a panel data sample selection model that allows for discrete choices in labor supply decisions and apply this to high-quality administrative data. Compared to labor supply decisions at the extensive margin, our new approach is able to control for additional unobserved heterogeneity from intensive labor supply choices with important consequences for the existence and direction of selection into (part-time) work. Applied to the data, we find that such information is especially important for estimating part-time wage profiles for women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bergin, Adele, Seamus McGuinness, Elisa Staffa & Adele Whelan (2026): Youth employment and temporary contracts in Europe: Trends, drivers, and institutions. In: European journal of industrial relations, S. 1-23. DOI:10.1177/09596801261458162

Abstract

"This paper examines youth employment and temporary youth employment across the EU-27 countries and the UK, focussing on the role of labour market institutions. Using EU Labour Force Survey data, we analyse trends and drivers of both overall and temporary youth employment and assess how institutional factors influence these outcomes. Our results show that while youth employment rates tend to converge across countries during recoveries, temporary youth employment remains segmented, especially where employment protection is stricter. Higher levels of education and job quality are associated with better youth employment outcomes and reduced exposure to temporary contracts, consistent with established findings in the literature. Overall, the findings highlight the role of institutional arrangements in shaping youth labour market adjustment and suggest that convergence in headline employment outcomes can coexist with persistent segmentation in contract types across Europe." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bergmann, Lea (2026): Does Part-time Work Affect Firms’ Employment Structure and Outcomes? (Ruhr economic papers 1217), Essen, 43 S. DOI:10.4419/96973402

Abstract

"Teilzeitarbeit ist ein Spannungsfeld auf modernen Arbeitsmärkten: Sie kann die Erwerbsbeteiligung von Frauen erhöhen und die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Privatleben verbessern, jedoch potenziell organisatorische Kosten für Unternehmen verursachen, aufgrund von Koordinationsproblemen und weniger Flexibilität bei der Arbeitsplanung. Diese Studie untersucht eine deutsche Reform aus dem Jahr 2001, die Beschäftigten in Unternehmen mit 16 oder mehr Mitarbeitern das Recht einräumte, ihre Arbeitszeit dauerhaft zu verkürzen. Anhand von administrativen Daten auf Unternehmensebene und eines Difference-in-Discontinuities-Designs rund um die Schwelle von 16 Beschäftigten finden sich keine Hinweise darauf, dass die Vorschrift die Beschäftigungsstruktur der Unternehmen verändert. Darüber hinaus hat sie keinen Einfluss auf das Geschäftsvolumen oder die Neueinstellungen von Unternehmen. Diese Nulleffekte lassen sich dadurch erklären, dass die Unternehmen bereits vor der Reform Teilzeitwünsche gestattet haben. Insgesamt deuten die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass ein Recht auf Teilzeitarbeit keine nachweisbaren Veränderungen bei der Beschäftigung oder dem Geschäftserfolg verursacht hat." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Beyer, Jürgen & Janis Ewen (2026): The Host Country Effect in the Platform Economy: Insights from Meal Delivery in Germany and Austria. In: Zeitschrift für Sozialreform, S. 1-26. DOI:10.1515/zsr-2025-0020

Abstract

"Dieser Artikel beschreibt anhand einer Fallstudie zu Lieferando – dem Marktführer in Deutschland und Österreich – wie Host-Country-Effekte die Organisation der Arbeit auf Online-Plattformen im Bereich der Lebensmittellieferung beeinflussen. Entgegen der Erwartung, dass Plattformunternehmen weltweit standardisierte Modelle der Gig-Arbeit-Organisation verbreiten würden, hat Lieferando seine Beschäftigten in beiden Ländern ursprünglich mit Arbeitsverträgen ausgestattet. Seit Neuestem verfolgt Lieferando jedoch divergierende Beschäftigungsstrategien: In Deutschland ist eine Umstellung auf Lieferungen durch Subunternehmen erfolgt, und in Österreich werden den Lieferanten nun statt Arbeitsverträgen sogenannte freie Dienstverträge angeboten. Diese auf Host-Country-Effekte zurückgehenden Entwicklungen in beiden Ländern spiegeln den Einfluss der nationalen Rechtsrahmen, institutioneller Traditionen und einer Plattformstrategie wider, die durch die Übernahme von Lieferandos Muttergesellschaft Just Eat Takeaway durch Prosus in eine andere Richtung gelenkt wurde. Trotz einer starken Tradition der Arbeitnehmervertretung und Tarifverhandlungen in beiden Ländern unterstreichen die jüngsten Entwicklungen die Anfälligkeit von Plattformarbeit gegenüber regulatorischen Lücken, kapitalgetriebenen Umstrukturierungen und sinkenden Arbeitsstandards." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © De Gruyter)

Zitatform

Brega, Carla & Karin Schulze Buschoff (2026): Adapting social security to the needs of platform Workers – comparing the effects of EU initiatives in the Netherlands and Germany. In: Zeitschrift für Sozialreform, S. 1-26. DOI:10.1515/zsr-2025-0023

Abstract

"Vor dem Hintergrund der Bedeutungszunahme der digitalen Plattformarbeit werden in Europa verstärkt Debatten über die Einstufung von Arbeitsverhältnissen und ihren sozialen Schutz geführt. Plattformbeschäftigte werden in der Regel als Selbstständige eingestuft, weshalb sie von den für Arbeitnehmer*innen konzipierten Arbeitsschutz- und Sozialversicherungssystemen ausgeschlossen sind. Die EU-Richtlinie zur Plattformarbeit (2024) befasst sich mit diesem Problem durch eine widerlegbare Vermutung des Beschäftigungsstatus, wodurch die (Re-)Klassifizierung von Plattformbeschäftigten als Arbeitnehmer*innen erleichtert werden soll. Wir argumentieren, dass eine (Re-)Klassifizierung allein möglicherweise nicht ausreicht, um einen angemessenen sozialen Schutz zu gewährleisten. Plattformarbeit ist häufig eine Nebentätigkeit für Menschen mit mehreren Jobs, unregelmäßigen Einkommen und fragmentierten Beschäftigungsverhältnissen – Beschäftigungsmuster, die Sozialversicherungssysteme herausfordern, die auf standardmäßigen Vollzeitbeschäftigungsverhältnissen bei einem einzigen Arbeitgeber basieren. Selbst wenn sie den Status eines abhängig Beschäftigten erlangen, können Plattformbeschäftigte die Voraussetzungen für die Arbeitslosenversicherung, für Rentenansprüche und andere Sozialleistungen nicht erfüllen. Anhand einer vergleichenden institutionellen Analyse Deutschlands und der Niederlande untersuchen wir, wie unterschiedliche Konfigurationen des Sozialstaats sowohl den (Re-)Klassifizierungsprozess als auch das Verhältnis von Beschäftigungsstatus und effektivem Zugang zu Sozialleistungen beeinflussen. Das konservative korporatistische Modell Deutschlands schafft eine scharfe Trennung zwischen dem Schutz von Arbeitnehmer*innen und Selbstständigen, während der hybride Flexicurity-Ansatz der Niederlande atypische Beschäftigungsverhältnisse flexibler berücksichtigt. Unsere Analyse zeigt, dass keines der beiden Modelle diesen Herausforderungen gerecht wird, was darauf hindeutet, dass Initiativen zur (Re-)Klassifizierung auf der EU-Ebene mit gleichzeitigen Reformen der nationalen Sozialversicherungssysteme einhergehen müssen, um Plattformbeschäftigten einen adäquaten Schutz zu bieten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © De Gruyter)

Zitatform

Brüll, Eduard (2026): Does tightening the duration of temporary contracts cost jobs? Evidence from Germany. (ZEW discussion paper 26-026), Mannheim, 54 S.

Abstract

"Many countries limit how long a worker may be kept on a temporary contract, yet little is known about how firms and workers respond when this maximum duration is tightened. Does a shorter cap simply displace temporary jobs, or does it push firms towards permanent hiring? I provide causal evidence on this duration margin using a 2001 German reform that restricted temporary contracts longer than two years in previously exempt small firms. Using difference-in-differences combined with propensity-score matching, I find that new jobs became around five percentage points more likely to start with a permanent contract, that contract durations bunched at the cap, and that overall employment was not adversely affected. Once the first capped contracts matured, turnover of short-tenure workers rose by a third to a half, but conversions to permanent contracts dominated this churn margin, and post-reform labour-market entrants saw higher early-career earnings and job stability. The findings speak directly to the current debate over lengthening such caps, including Germany's plan to double its own from two to four years." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Burkert, Carola, Britta Matthes & Laila Schmitt (2026): Ein blinder Fleck in der Teilzeitdebatte: Einschränkungen des Rechtsanspruchs auf Teilzeit würden Frauen stärker treffen als Männer. In: IAB-Forum – Grafik aktuell H. 04.03.2026. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.GA.20260304.01

Abstract

"Im Dezember 2024 arbeitete bundesweit fast jede zweite Frau nicht in Vollzeit, während es bei den Männern nur 14 Prozent waren. Selbst wenn man berücksichtigt, dass nicht in allen Berufen gleichermaßen Teilzeitarbeit möglich ist, ändert sich nichts an diesem Befund. Daher würden Einschränkungen des Rechtsanspruchs auf Teilzeit Frauen stärker treffen als Männer." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Coglianese, John & Brendan M. Price (2026): Income in the Off-Season: Household Adaptation to Yearly Work Interruptions. In: ILR review, Jg. 79, H. 3, S. 408-434. DOI:10.1177/00197939251406145

Abstract

"Joblessness is highly seasonal. To analyze how households adapt to seasonal joblessness, the authors introduce a measure of seasonal work interruptions premised on the idea that a seasonal worker will tend to exit employment around the same time each year. They show that an excess share of prime-age US workers experience recurrent separations spaced exactly 12 months apart. Examining workers most prone to seasonal work interruptions, the authors find that they incur large earnings losses during the off-season that are little offset by other sources of income. On net, household income falls by about $0.80 for each $1.00 lost in an individual’s own earnings." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Fitzenberger, Bernd (2026): Das Teilzeit-Paradox - und warum eine Abschaffung allen schadet. Kommentar. In: Focus Online H. 14.02.2026.

Abstract

"In Deutschland sind die Beschäftigungsquote und die geleisteten Arbeitsstunden so hoch wie nie. Trotzdem wird gefordert, mehr zu arbeiten und das Recht auf Teilzeit einzuschränken. Das ist allerdings zu kurz gedacht, meint der IAB-Chef. Ein Kommentar von Prof. Bernd Fitzenberger" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Fitzenberger, Bernd & Karolin Hiesinger (2026): Der Anstieg der Zahl der Erwerbstätigen in den letzten zehn Jahren ist weitestgehend dem Wachstum der sozialversicherungspflichtigen Beschäftigung geschuldet. In: IAB-Forum – Grafik aktuell H. 11.03.2026. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.GA.20260311.01

Abstract

"In Deutschland arbeiten mehr Menschen denn je: Die Zahl der Erwerbstätigen ist seit 2015 um 6,6 Prozent von etwa 43 Millionen auf fast 46 Millionen Menschen im Jahr 2025 gestiegen – ein neuer Rekord. Der alleinige Blick auf die Entwicklung dieses Wertes verkennt jedoch die dramatischen Verschiebungen in der Struktur der Erwerbstätigkeit." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Flek, Vladislav & Martin Hála (2026): Why Europeans (do not) leave part-time employment? A competing risks analysis. In: Empirica, Jg. 53, H. 1, S. 1-43. DOI:10.1007/s10663-025-09658-y

Abstract

"We analyse the tenures in and exits from part-time employment from the gender perspective, considering separately the “old” (Western European) and “new” (Eastern European) EU countries. Overall, poor health, older age, low education, and preceding unemployment or inactivity experiences hinder the transitions from part-time to full-time employment and simultaneously increase the odds of exiting via unemployment or inactivity. Household and macroeconomic covariates are more illustrative than individual characteristics in revealing the deeply rooted differences in the exit patterns from part-time employment across the sexes and sub-regions. Further, we show that part-time work is a relatively resilient employment pattern, especially among Western European women. Despite gender- and regional-based variations, full-time employment is the main exit channel from part-time employment in all cases. Thus, part-time employment serves to a high degree as a stepping stone into full-time jobs, which is additionally supported by the prevalence of prolonged durations of full-time employment arrangements when a spell of part-time employment expires. Though the fraction of spells of part-time employment resulting in employment discontinuity represents just 25–30% (depending on the sub-region and sex), the exclusion from paid employment among former part-time workers requires policy attention: nearly a third of all unemployment episodes following the termination of a spell of part-time employment last 12 months or longer while analogous figures for inactivity tenures are more diverse and range between 40 and 60%." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

Zitatform

Gürtzgen, Nicole, Alexander Kubis & Martin Popp (2026): Befristungen bei Neueinstellungen 2025. (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung. Aktuelle Daten und Indikatoren), Nürnberg, 9 S.

Abstract

"Im Rahmen der IAB-Stellenerhebung gaben die Betriebe an, im Jahr 2025 in Deutschland rund 4,2 Mio. sozialversicherungspflichtige Neueinstellungen (ohne Auszubildende und ohne Mini Jobs) vorgenommen zu haben. Hiervon waren 26 Prozent, also rund 1,1 Mio. Stellen (zunächst) befristet. Die Befristung von Neueinstellungen ermöglicht den Betrieben, die Fähigkeiten von Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern zu überprüfen, bevor ein unbefristetes Arbeitsverhältnis eingegangen wird. Durch den Abschluss von befristeten Arbeitsverträgen können Betriebe ohne langfristige Mittelbindung häufig auch Jobs anbieten, die sonst vielleicht nicht finanzierbar gewesen wären. Darüber hinaus haben Befristungen für Betriebe zudem den Vorteil, dass sie (Entlassungs-)Kosten vermeiden können, die gegebenenfalls im Rahmen des allgemeinen oder tarifvertraglich erweiterten Kündigungsschutzes entstehen können. Als weiteres wichtiges betriebliches Motiv für befristete Neueinstellungen ist zudem ein vorübergehender Mehrbedarf an Arbeitskräften etwa infolge temporärer Auftragsspitzen zu nennen. Die Tatsache, dass Betriebe befristete Neueinstellungen vornehmen können, kann u.a. darin begründet sein, dass Betriebe über Marktmacht verfügen, die den Abschluss von befristeten Verträgen erleichtert. Zu beachten ist, dass die Befristungsquoten bei Neueinstellungen deutlich oberhalb des Anteils befristeter Beschäftigung an der Gesamtbeschäftigung liegen. Rund 2,6 Millionen Beschäftigte in Deutschland hatten laut IAB-Betriebspanel im Jahr 2024 einen befristeten Arbeitsvertrag. Das entspricht einem Anteil an allen Beschäftigten (ohne Auszubildende) von 6,3 Prozent. Die Diskrepanz zwischen dem Anteil befristeter Neueinstellungen und dem Befristungsanteil aller Beschäftigter zeigt, dass befristete Beschäftigungsverhältnisse in nennenswertem Ausmaß in unbefristete Arbeitsverträge umgewandelt werden. Aktuell setzt sich der seit 2016 beobachtete rückläufige Trend bei der Befristung von Neueinstellungen im Jahr 2025 nicht weiter fort." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Han, Wen-Jui, Johanna Carrasco Saravia, Matthias Pollmann-Schult, Tinh Doan & Jianghong Li (2026): Longitudinal employment patterns and parental health: A cross-country look. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 21, H. 6. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0350945

Abstract

"Study aims: Using a cross-country lens, we investigate the links between longitudinal work trajectories and health among parents with children under age 18. Background: Employment serves as a valuable resource, affording us a decent standard of living. The rising dominance of digital and technology, together with the service economy since the 1980s, has transformed the utility of employment from a resource to a vulnerability, subjecting more families to uncertain, unstable, and insecure work. Nonstandard work schedules or shiftwork, which often fall outside regular 9-to-5 daytime hours and can be unpredictable, carry potential health consequences. Methods: Using the longitudinal data from Australia (HILDA), Germany (SOEP), the UK (UKHLS), and the US (NLSY79), we used sequence analysis to first chart parental work schedule patterns between three stages of the life course, 25–34, 35–44, and 45–54, to show the changes and transitions in work patterns. We then conducted multivariate regression analysis to examine how variations in parental work patterns may shape individual health (i.e., physical and mental health) at ages 35/40, 45/50, and 55/60 while controlling for a rich set of sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Our sequence analyses uncovered roughly 4–6 work patterns during those three periods, revealing the heterogeneities of parental work trajectories that might correspond to childrearing demands and their sociodemographic backgrounds. We also found that mainly not-working pattern or volatile work arrangements (e.g., switching between daytime and non-daytime hours) were associated with significantly poorer physical and mental health; however, the persistence and magnitude of these associations varied by country. Conclusions: This study advances our understanding of the critical role of employment in our health from a cross-country perspective and bears important implications for the intergenerational transmission of employment and health vulnerabilities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Helbig, Alexander & Martin Ehlert (2026): Temporary employment and further training. Does training promote the transition from temporary to permanent employment? In: Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, Jg. 102. DOI:10.1016/j.rssm.2026.101130

Abstract

"The article analyses the returns to further training courses among a vulnerable group: the temporary employed. We address the important question of whether non-formal further training promotes the transition to permanent work and thus helps to escape precarious employment trajectories. According to human capital theory, work-related training increases workers’ productivity and might also serve as a positive signal to employers, as signaling theory suggests. On the other hand, firms may combine training and transitions to permanent jobs for selected workers. We use data from the German Educational Panel Study and apply event history models to test these conflicting theoretical assumptions. In general, the results suggest positive effects of non-formal further training on transitions to permanent work. Especially employer-funded training shows a strong correlation with transitions within the same firm, but not with transitions to other firms. This seems to be both due to signaling of motivation and firm internal pathways that combine training and transitions. Individual, self-funded training on the other hand does not seem to affect any transition chances further indicating that firm-internal mechanisms are more important than human capital development." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.) ((en))

Zitatform

Hopp, Marvin, Ann-Kathrin Hoffmann, Nina Moya Schreieder & Heiner Heiland (2026): Jung, akademisch, (immer noch) prekär. Studentische Erwerbsarbeit an Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen. Göttingen, 178 S. DOI:10.47952/gro-publ-370

Abstract

"Die bereits 2021 vereinbarte Bestandsaufnahme zu den Arbeitsbedingungen haben die studentischen Beschäftigten selbst in die Hand genommen, denn weder über die Zahl der Beschäftigten noch über deren konkrete Beschäftigungsbedingungen lagen aktuelle Erkenntnisse vor. Dies änderte die erste Fassung des vorliegenden Forschungsberichts aus dem Jahr 2023, die das Ergebnis der bislang größten Befragung von studentischen Beschäftigten in der Bundesrepublik war. Durchgeführt wurde sie von der Abteilung „Wandel der Arbeitsgesellschaft“ des Instituts Arbeit und Wirtschaft der Universität Bremen (iaw) in Kooperation mit ver.di und GEW sowie den bundesweiten TVStud-Initiativen. Mit der nun vorliegenden Folgebefragung aus dem Sommersemester 2025, die von einem Team der Georg- August-Universität Göttingen durchgeführt wurde, bestätigt sich erneut das erschreckende Bild: Ein großer Teil der Beschäftigten nimmt bestehenden Urlaubsanspruch nicht wahr oder arbeitet Krankheitstage nach – und das teilweise unter expliziter Aufforderung durch Vorgesetzte, wochenlang ohne Bezahlung oder gar Arbeitsvertrag. Studentische Beschäftigte erbringen ihre Tätigkeiten weiterhin in einem Feld, in dem sie oft weitgehend von betrieblicher Mitbestimmung ausgeschlossen werden und in dem grundlegende Arbeitsrechtsverstöße die Regel statt die Ausnahme sind." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Jahn, Elke & Michael Rosholm (2026): Does the stepping-stone effect of temporary agency employment vary over the business cycle? In: The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Jg. 128, H. 4, S. 939-977., 2025-12-01. DOI:10.1111/sjoe.70010

Abstract

"We examine the cyclicality of the stepping-stone effect of temporary agency work in Germany across three business cycles using administrative data and a timing-of-events model. We estimate in- and post-treatment effects and their response to the unemployment rate. We find a strong lock-in effect of agency employment, particularly in tight labor markets, suggesting that firms rarely use agency work for screening. The positive post-treatment effect is larger in downturns, indicating that workers activate the networks built during agency jobs. The matching quality improves for those transitioning directly into regular employment, with greater gains in upturns." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Wiley) ((en))

Zitatform

Jansen, Thea & Marina De Angelis (2026): Remote work versus part-time employment: a new work-family balance? In: Eurasian economic review, S. 1-26. DOI:10.1007/s40822-026-00378-7

Abstract

"This paper examines whether remote work can reduce reliance on part-time employment—a work arrangement predominantly used by women to balance work and family responsibilities but often associated with lower earnings, limited career prospects, and reduced pension benefits. Focusing on Italy, where female under-employment is particularly high, we investigate whether the flexibility offered by remote and hybrid work can serve as a substitute for part-time employment, enabling some necessity-driven part-time workers to transition to full-time contracts. Using a difference-in-differences framework and weighted logistic regression, we analyze panel and cross-sectional data from the National Institute for Public Policies Analysis (INAPP)’s Participation, Labor, and Unemployment Survey (PLUS) for the 2018–2021 period. Our findings show that remote work significantly reduces the probability of working part-time in the following year, with women showing the highest increase in the likelihood of having a full-time contract. Our findings underscore the potential of remote work to promote gender equality, higher earnings, and improved pension contributions by enabling longer working hours among necessity-driven part-time workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Jin-Ngo, Dylan (2026): An extension of the insider-outsider labor market theory: The inclusion of quasi-insiders. In: Economics Letters, Jg. 260. DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112792

Abstract

"The rise of high-skilled, temporary workers has reshaped market power dynamics, derived from labor turnover costs, in the primary labor market. We provide a preliminary framework extending the insider-outsider theory of employment and unemployment to account for the role of the “quasi-insider”. Reducing the market power of insiders, firms can exploit productivity-wage arbitrage to pass along labor turnover costs to new employees. We highlight a resulting second-order effect on the reduction of aggregate unemployment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, ©2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.) ((en))

Zitatform

Kalin, Salla, Tomi Kyyrä & Tuomas Matikka (2026): Combining part-time work and social benefits: Empirical evidence from Finland. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 260. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2026.105685

Abstract

"We use population-wide data from Finland to provide evidence on the impact of earnings disregard policies on part-time work during unemployment spells. The share of part-time workers among benefit recipients increased sharply from about 10% to nearly 18% over a few years after the implementation of earnings disregards in unemployment benefits and housing allowances, which allowed individuals to earn up to 300 euros per month without reductions in their benefits. Using variation in the impact of the reforms on incentives between individuals eligible for different types of benefits, we estimate that the share of individuals working part-time during unemployment increased by 4.1–4.5 percentage points (23–32%) due to the implementation of earnings disregards, corresponding to a part-time work participation elasticity with respect to the participation tax rate of approximately 1. We find no evidence that earnings disregards crowd out full-time employment, but instead find moderate positive longer-run employment effects." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))

Zitatform

Krug, Gerhard & Monika Jungbauer-Gans (2026): Does the level of unemployment protection influence how job insecurity impacts health. (SocArXiv papers), 23 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/7mjkd_v1

Abstract

"This study examines the relationship between job insecurity, defined as the expectation of job loss, and the health status of employed persons. We investigate whether the impact of job insecurity on health is influenced by the level of unemployment protection provided by the welfare state. We consider the 2005 German welfare reform as a natural experiment and use a difference-in-differences propensity score weighting estimator to analyse repeated large-scale cross-sectional surveys from 1999, 2006 and 2012. Job insecurity is a binary treatment indicator derived from the self-assessed risk of dismissal. Health is measured by the number of health complaints during or immediately after work. We find that the reform has led to a statistically significant increase in the negative impact of job insecurity on health. In addition to this short-term effect, a long-term effect of a similar magnitude was also observed. Furthermore, the effects of the reform are statistically insignificant for low- and high-income employees, but statistically significant for middle-income employees. For female employees, the effect is smaller but still statistically significant at the 5 % level, while it is stronger and also statistically significant for male employees." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Kvart, Signild, Lluís Mangot-Sala, Amanda Aronsson, Kathryn Badarin, Kim Bosmans, Virginia Gunn, Gun Johansson, Mireia Julià, Bertina Kreshpaj, Nuria Matilla-Santander, Fabrizio Mendez-Rivero, Emelie Thern, Per-Olof Östergren & Theo Bodin (2026): Precarious employment and mental health: the moderating role of household income and family type in Sweden. In: BMC public health, Jg. 26, H. 1. DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-26259-x

Abstract

"This study investigated the moderating role of household disposable income and family type on the association between precarious employment (PE) and diagnosed mental disorders. This longitudinal study used register data from the Swedish Work, Illness, and Labour-market Participation (SWIP) cohort. The study population included all individuals aged 27–65 who were employed in 2016 (n = 2,509,229). Precarious employment was measured using the Swedish Register-based Operationalization of Precarious Employment (SWE-ROPE 2.0), which captures employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and lack of rights and protection. Diagnosed mental disorders during 2017–2019 were identified through national inpatient, outpatient, and prescription registers. Household disposable income and family type (2016) were examined as moderators. Cox regression models estimated the effect of precarious employment on diagnosed mental disorders, with moderation assessed using two-way interaction terms. The risk of diagnosed mental disorders was higher among those in PE (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.18–1.23) compared with those in standard employment, across household income levels and family types. High household income was generally protective, but the interaction between PE and high income indicated that this protective effect was reduced for individuals in PE, both among men (interaction HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04–1.43) andwomen (interaction HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13–1.38). Among women, family types other than “couple without children” amplified the effects of PE on diagnosed mental disorders. The interaction for single mothers (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14–1.42) showed that the combined effect of PE and single motherhood exceeded the sum of their separate effects. Higher household income does not fully buffer the negative impact of PE on diagnosed mental disorders, and the negative impact of PE appears stronger for women, especially mothers. The findings are most generalisable to contexts with similar welfare regimes and gender norms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Maffie, Michael David & Hector Hurtado (2026): The Enshittification of Work: Platform Decay and Labour Conditions in the Gig Economy. In: BJIR, Jg. 64, H. 1, S. 5-20. DOI:10.1111/bjir.70004

Abstract

"This study investigates the mechanisms by which gig platforms degrade labor conditions over time, building on the concept of platform decay, or ‘enshittification’, initially developed in the context of social media platforms. In this article, we draw on 30 interviews with long-term gig workers in the ride-hail and grocery delivery sectors, offering insights into how these companies shift from offering attractive working conditions to exploiting labor as these services develop market power via network effects. We identify three mechanisms through which gig companies claw back value from workers over time: burden shifting (transferring operational costs to workers), feature addition and alteration (increasing the demands on workers), and market manipulation (reducing worker bargaining power). We then explore how workers respond to platform decay, finding that workers adopt three responses: effort recalibration , multi-homing and navigating the changing conditions through what we term toxic resilience . This study contributes to the gig work literature by developing a framework to explain how working conditions in the gig economy improve or degrade over time. In doing so, this article provides a framework for organizing the growing constellation of labour research on gig workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Ramos, Vincent Jerald & Ann Berrington (2026): Labour market insecurity and parental co-residence in the United Kingdom: heterogeneities by parental class and age. In: European Sociological Review, S. 1-18. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcaf058

Abstract

"Amidst young adults’ increasing labour market insecurity and rates of parental co-residence, this article examines how unemployment and underexplored forms of non-standard employment (NSE)—underemployment and temporary and agency work (TAW) —are associated with inter-generational co-residence in the United Kingdom. Refining the feathered nest/gilded cage hypothesis to incorporate forms of non-NSE, we analyse how parental social class moderates this relationship across the transition to adulthood phase, driven by both protective and propellant motives. We estimate logistic regression models using the 2021–2024 waves of the UK Labour Force Survey, which allow for a precise identification of time-related underemployment and agency working. Results suggest that states of labour underutilization (underemployment) and impermanence (TAW) as well as unemployment are all associated with higher probabilities of parental co-residence relative to standard employment. This relationship is in part mediated by earnings disparities. Further, socio-economic background matters—the positive insecurity co-residence association is most pronounced amongst young adults from service-class backgrounds. This is consistent with a refined feathered nest/gilded cage hypothesis whereby higher parental resources facilitate co-residence at earlier phases of adulthood transitions, especially for young adults facing labour market insecurities, but this slightly tapers off with age." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Resendez, Sarahi, Jianghong Li & Matthias Pollmann-Schult (2026): Nonstandard work schedules and work-life balance in dual-earner households: The role of parenthood. In: Journal of Family Research, Jg. 38, S. 1-22. DOI:10.20377/jfr-1259

Abstract

"Objective: This study examines whether nonstandard work schedules (NSWS) improve or hinder work-life balance (WLB) for parents and non-parents in dual-earner households. Background: Previous research shows that NSWS can negatively affect workers' well-being. However, less is known about whether and to what extent these effects differ between parents and childless individuals. Method: Using data from the first wave of the German Family Demography Panel Study (FReDA), linear regression models are applied to assess whether the effect of NSWS on WLB is influenced by family circumstances. Results: Parenthood is generally associated with lower WLB. However, the negative association between NSWS and WLB is more pronounced among childless workers. Notably, mothers of young children (ages 0-5), as well as fathers of school-aged children (ages 6-12) working NSWS report higher WLB than their childless counterparts. Conclusion: Parents with NSWS in dual-earner households do not necessarily experience lower WLB than childless workers. In some cases, NSWS may even help parents better reconcile work and family responsibilities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Riphahn, Regina T. (2026): Midijobs - institutionelle Anreize für Teilzeitarbeit. In: Ifo-Schnelldienst, Jg. 79, H. 05, S. 07-11.

Abstract

"In Deutschland werden mehr als 12 Mio. Beschäftigungsverhältnisse mit geringen Einkommen als Mini- und Midijobs attraktiv ausgestaltet. Midijobs wurden eingeführt, um Übergänge aus Minijobs in reguläre Beschäftigung zu erleichtern. Wir wissen, dass Midijobs dieses Ziel nicht erreichen. Dennoch wurden Midijobsubventionen seit 2003 stetig erhöht und steigern die Attraktivität von Teilzeitbeschäftigung." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Sauer, Irakli, Matthias Collischon & Regina T. Riphahn (2026): Midijob reforms, Minijob traps, and employers' response. (LASER discussion papers 156), Erlangen, 28 S.

Abstract

"In Germany, jobs with monthly earnings of up to 2,000 Euro (Mini- and Midijobs) are subsidized: employees pay reduced social insurance contributions. Among various reform elements, since Oct. 1, 2022, employers have to pay higher social insurance contributions on Midijobs compared to regular employment. Midijobs were introduced in 2003 to address the Minijob trap: individuals face strong disincentives to extend their labor supply beyond the Minijob earnings limit due to the abrupt increase in payroll and income taxes. This paper examines whether recent Midijob reforms contribute to reaching this objective, and whether employers changed their hiring behavior in response to increased contribution rates. We exploit reliable administrative data and find that the Minijob trap problem was not ameliorated by the reforms. In addition, employers avoided Midijobs in their hiring behavior after the reforms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

(2026): Saisonale Beschäftigung in der Landwirtschaft. (Kurzinfo / Bundesagentur für Arbeit), Nürnberg, 6 S.

Zitatform

(2026): "Flexploitation" nach Pierre Bourdieu in der heutigen Arbeitswelt. Eine Untersuchung von Plattformarbeit und atypischer Beschäftigung. (Sachstand / Deutscher Bundestag, Wissenschaftliche Dienste), Berlin, 27 S.

Abstract

"Im Rahmen des Kongresses „Rencontres Européennes contre la précarité“ 1 in Grenoble 1997 prägte der französische Soziologe und Sozialphilosoph Pierre Bourdieu in seinem Vortrag „Prekarität2 ist überall“ 3 den Begriff der „Flexploitation“. Dabei handelt es sich um eine Wortneuschöpfung aus den Begriffen „flexibility“(Flexibilität) und „exploitation“ (Ausbeutung). An die Wissenschaftlichen Dienste des Deutschen Bundestages wurde die Frage herangetragen, ob Bourdieu für den Begriff der Flexploitation Szenarien beschrieben hat, die auch heute im Bereich Arbeit und Soziales Anwendung finden können, beziehungsweise ob in aktuellen Arbeitsfeldern und Branchen Parallelen bestehen. Zudem sollen mögliche Einflüsse auf unser heutiges Sozialversicherungssystem erörtert werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

(2026): Entwicklungen in der Zeitarbeit. (Berichte: Blickpunkt Arbeitsmarkt / Bundesagentur für Arbeit), Nürnberg, 26 S.

Abstract

"Die Arbeitnehmerüberlassung reagiert typischerweise frühzeitig auf Änderungen der konjunkturellen Rahmenbedingungen und kann daher ein Frühindikator für die Entwicklung am Arbeitsmarkt sein. Nach einer langen Wachstumsphase setzte im Jahr 2018 ein Rückgang der sozialversicherungspflichtigen Beschäftigung in der Zeitarbeit ein, der lediglich von einer kurzen Erholungsphase nach Ende der Corona Pandemie unterbrochen wurde. Seit Ende 2022 unterschreiten die Werte kontinuierlich das Vorjahresniveau und liegen seit Anfang 2024 unter 700.000. Im Juni 2025 waren 622.000 Leiharbeitnehmende in Deutschland sozialversicherungspflichtig beschäftigt. Ihr Anteil an der Gesamtbeschäftigung lag nach kontinuierlichen Rückgängen in den letzten Jahren bei 1,8 Prozent. Im Vergleich zur Gesamtbeschäftigung ist die ausschließlich geringfügige Beschäftigung in der Arbeitnehmerüberlassung wenig verbreitet. Neben den sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten arbeiteten 47.000 Minijobber in einem Leiharbeitsverhältnis. Leiharbeitnehmende arbeiten häufiger in Tätigkeiten, die mit einem niedrigen Anforderungsniveau verbunden sind: Mehr als jeder Zweite übt eine Helfertätigkeit aus. Die Mehrzahl der sozialversicherungspflichtig beschäftigten Leiharbeitnehmenden ist männlich und jünger. Personen ohne Berufsabschluss sind anteilig deutlich häufiger vertreten als bei den sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten insgesamt. Auch der Ausländeranteil ist höher. Zeitarbeit bietet damit neben jungen Menschen auch Geringqualifizierten und Ausländern eine Einstiegsmöglichkeit in den Arbeitsmarkt. Die Beschäftigung in der Zeitarbeit weist eine überdurchschnittliche hohe Dynamik auf. Im gleitenden Jahreswert Juli 2024 bis Juni 2025 waren knapp 10 Prozent der in Arbeitslosigkeit zugegangenen Personen vorher in der Arbeitnehmerüberlassung beschäftigt, bei den sozialversicherungspflichtigen Beschäftigungsaufnahmen aus Arbeitslosigkeit hatte die Zeitarbeitsbranche einen Anteil von 12 Prozent. 8 von 10 Arbeitslosen, die aus Arbeitslosigkeit eine sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung in der Zeitarbeit aufgenommen haben, sind nach 6 Monaten sozialversicherungspflichtig beschäftigt, teilweise auch in anderen Branchen. Seit Mitte 2021 gehen die monatlichen Stellenmeldungen nahezu kontinuierlich zurück und liegen seit 2024 bei rund 23.000 auf historisch niedrigen Werten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Aronsson, Amanda E., Emelie Thern, Nuria Matilla-Santander, Signild Kvart, Julio C. Hernando-Rodriguez, Kathryn Badarin, Mireia Julià, Samira Alfayumi-Zeadna, Virginia Gunn, Bertina Kreshpaj, Carles Muntaner, Theo Bodin & Lluís Mangot-Sala (2025): Parental precarious employment and the mental health of adolescents: a Swedish registry study. In: Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, Jg. 51, H. 2, S. 59-67. DOI:10.5271/sjweh.4210

Abstract

"This study investigates the association between parental precarious employment (PE) and the mental health of their adolescent children, with a particular focus on how the association differs based on whether the mother or father is in PE. This register-based study used the Swedish Work, Illness, and Labor-market Participation (SWIP) cohort. A sample of 117 437 children aged 16 years at baseline (2005) were followed up until 2009 (the year they turned 20). A multidimensional construct of PE (SWE-ROPE 2.0) was used to classify parental employment as either precarious, substandard or standard. The outcome, adolescents’ mental disorders, wasmeasured as a diagnosis of a mental disorder using ICD-10 codes or by prescribed psychotropic drugs using ATC codes. Crude and adjusted Cox regression models produced hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to estimate the association between parental PE and adolescents’mental health. Adolescents with parents in PE exhibited a higher risk of developing mental disorders. The association was more pronounced for paternal PE (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10–1.35) compared to maternal PE (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.00–1.21). These associations largely persisted after adjusting for important confounders, including parental mental health. This study addresses a significant gap in the literature on parental PE and adolescents’ mental health. As PE is growing more common across countries, this study provides relevant insights into the intergenerational role that parental low-quality employment may have in terms of mental health within families." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Bermúdez-Barrezueta, Natalia, Sam Desiere & Giulia Tarullo (2025): Hiring Subsidies and Temporary Work Agencies. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 17616), Bonn, 40 S.

Abstract

"This paper evaluates a hiring subsidy for lower-educated youths in Flanders (Belgium) that reduced labor costs by approximately 13% for a period of two years, starting in 2016. Using a donut Regression Discontinuity Design, we find no evidence that the subsidy improved the job finding rate of eligible job seekers in 2016-19, a period marked by a tight labor market. We then investigate the role of temporary work agencies, which disproportionately employ the target group and obtain 25% to 34% of the subsidies. Using Difference-in-Differences regressions, we demonstrate that agencies did not raise wages of eligible agency workers in response to the policy. Remarkably, despite a 3.3% labor cost reduction, full-time equivalent employment of eligible workers in these agencies decreased by 9.2% over the three years following the reform. Our findings highlight how an active labor market policy affects agency employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Broschinski, Sven (2025): Labour market reforms, institutional complementarity and the insider–outsider wage gap. In: Socio-economic review, Jg. 23, H. 1, S. 229-255. DOI:10.1093/ser/mwae024

Abstract

"This article provides long-term evidence on how wage differentials between permanent and temporary workers are shaped by institutions that play a key role in labour market dualism, i.e. industrial relations, employment protection legislation and unemployment benefits. A two-step multilevel approach with fixed effects is employed using EU-SILC data for 25 European countries spanning up to 17 years (waves 2004–2020, N = 397) to estimate the moderating effects of several institutions and their interactions on the wage gap by contract type and across the whole wage distribution. The results show that more insider-oriented institutions tend to widen wage differentials and that the impact of institutional reforms on the wage gap varies greatly with the given institutional context. Overall, policy trends towards flexibilization risk widening insider–outsider divides due to accumulating labour market risks for temporary workers, thus increasing labour market segmentation by contract type." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

De Moortel, Deborah, Rebeka Balogh, Miriam Engels & Julie Vanderleyden (2025): Employment Quality and Mental Health in Germany: the Mismatch of Low Employment Quality with Work and Family Values by Gender. In: Social Science & Medicine, Jg. 371. DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117906

Abstract

"Empirical evidence on whether low-quality employment is detrimental to workers’ mental health is mostly cross-sectional and empirical evidence on pathways linking employment quality (EQ) to mental health remains scarce. Consequently, this study examines subsequent mental health associations of low-quality employment. Associations between EQ and mental health are investigated through a typology of employment arrangements. This study also investigates whether the relation between EQ types and subsequent mental health is different for workers with varying intensities of work and family values (i.e., importance of success at work and of having children, respectively) across genders. Using a large representative German panel dataset and Latent Class Cluster Analysis, EQ types are built and linked to mental health two years later. We assess two- and three-way interactions between EQ types and values, and between EQ types, gender and values, respectively. We found six EQ types: SER-like, precarious unsustainable, precarious full-time, SER-light, portfolio and protected part-time employment. Controlled for socio-demographic characteristics, precarious unsustainable employment for men and precarious full-time employment for women were associated to lower mental health after two years, compared to SER-like employment. Although protected part-time employment related to worse mental health for those with moderate to strong work and family values, compared to those with mild values, the interactions show an unclear pattern of the moderating role of values for the relation between EQ and subsequent mental health, for both men and women. This study should be replicated in other countries to confirm similar associations." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.) ((en))

Zitatform

Ehab, Maye & Fatma Mossad (2025): Informal employment in the health sector: Examining gender disparities. In: International Journal of Social Welfare, Jg. 34, H. 2, 2024-09-20. DOI:10.1111/ijsw.12704

Abstract

"This paper investigates the association between informal employment as a form of non-standard employment and the prevalence of in-work poverty for women in the health sector. We measured in-work poverty using a binary indicator that provides information on whether an individual has earnings above or below the low earnings threshold. The indicator takes into account household size and whether other household members are also in paid work. Using data from the Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey for the years 2012 and 2018 and logit models, we found that being employed within the health sector increased the likelihood of in-work poverty among non-standard employees, both men and women. However, higher risks of in-work poverty were witnessed among women working informally in the health sector compared to other sectors. This increased risk was particularly observed when comparing non-standard employment in the health sector to non-standard employment in non-health sectors. Furthermore, marital status plays a critical role in economic wellbeing, with never-married women being more susceptible to in-work poverty compared to ever-married women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Wiley) ((en))

Zitatform

Friedrich, Martin & Nils Teichler (2025): Do temporary employees experience increased material deprivation? Evidence from German panel data. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 35, H. 2, S. 143-156., 2024-08-16. DOI:10.1177/09589287241300011

Abstract

"Economic insecurity has recently received increasing attention as a determinant of material deprivation. We contribute to this line of research by analysing the relationship between temporary employment and material deprivation. We argue that temporary workers face exacerbated deprivation because they may forego basic needs to provide for an uncertain future. Using German panel data for the years 2008–2020, we find that temporary employment increases material deprivation among workers, particularly in low-income households. This finding is robust to our controlling for important variables such as household income and needs, individual- and household fixed effects and when considering lagged independent variables. The association is not driven by young or highly educated workers who may be more likely to hold temporary jobs without experiencing sustained material deprivation. We also find that temporary agency work, perceived job insecurity and firm turnover rates aggravate material deprivation. This supports the theoretical assumption that the impact of temporary employment on material deprivation is driven by the economic insecurities faced by temporary workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © SAGE) ((en))

Zitatform

Gatskova, Kseniia, Michal Pilc & Maciej Beresewicz (2025): Feeling disadvantaged? Type of employment contract and political attitudes. In: Socio-economic review, Jg. 23, H. 2, S. 787-811., 2024-02-05. DOI:10.1093/ser/mwae011

Abstract

"We tested the theory of relative deprivation in the context of the Polish labour market during the post-crisis period from 2009 to 2015. This period witnessed the highest incidence of temporary contracts in the European Union, providing novel evidence on the causal relationship between the type of employment contract and political attitudes. Our findings suggest that temporary workers are more supportive of income redistribution but less supportive of democracy. Additionally, a shift from permanent to temporary contracts among prime-aged employees leads to a decrease in their support for democracy. Although this effect is modest in magnitude, the article points to an important mechanism influencing shifts in political attitudes. Our findings suggest that the effect of temporary employment on political attitudes is more pronounced among socio-demographic groups less accustomed to unstable employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Oxford Academic) ((en))

Zitatform

Geisen, Thomas (2025): Prekäre Beschäftigung. Ein von der Migrationsforschung vernachlässigtes Thema? In: Migration und Soziale Arbeit, Jg. 47, H. 3, S. 179-185.

Abstract

"Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt, dass sich Prekarität seit den 1990er Jahren zu einem zentralen gesellschaftstheoretischen Paradigma entwickelt hat. Prekäre Beschäftigung hat inzwischen unter dem Begriff der atypischen Beschäftigung auch Eingang in die Arbeitsmarktstatistik ge-funden. Mit Blick auf Migration zeigen die Daten aus der Schweiz und Deutschland, dass die Zahl der Ausländer*innen in atypischer Beschäftigung in beiden Ländern etwas höher liegt als bei den Schweizer*innen und bei den Deutschen, dass sie zugleich aber auch über Jahre hinweg einen konstant niedrigen Wert aufweisen. Es handelt sich bei prekärer Beschäftigung also nicht mehrheitlich um ein „Migrationsproblem", allerdings sind auch Migrant*innen in prekärer, atypischer Beschäftigung tätig. (…) Eine am Prekaritäts-paradigma orientierte Migrationsforschung ist bislang kaum ausreichend entwickelt, könnte aber sowohl im Zusammenhang mit der Analyse von Beschäftigungsverhältnissen als auch mit Blick auf Formen von Diskriminierung und Rassismus einen wichtigen Beitrag zu einer differenzierten, migrationsbezogenen Arbeitsmarktforschung leisten." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Gilles, Fabrice (2025): Marginal employment as an incentive to find a regular job? A meta-regression analysis approach. (TEPP Working Paper 2025-05), 35 S.

Abstract

"In this article, we focus on the device that allows job seekers to combine marginal employment (parttime or short-full time job) to partial unemployment insurance benefits. Such a public policy exists in many OECD countries. Theoretical conclusions on its efficiency are inconclusive and the worldwide literature on its impact reveals contrasting effects. This paper reviews quantitatively this literature and propose a multivariate meta-regression analysis. Our database is composed of a large set of both articles written in the period 1999–2021. Considered articles differ according to several features (data sources and kind of job seekers, explanatory variables, econometric strategy applied, and the type of publication). In spite of heterogeneity of studies and of potential publication bias, marginal employment increases the probability to find a regular job by about 20 to 40 percentage points. This study thus highlights the importance of this device in helping job seekers exit unemployment, which encourage such approach to activate passive expenditure." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Giordano, Chiara & Cinzia Meraviglia (2025): Hidden behind closed doors: Non-standard employment, migrant women and gender regimes in Europe. In: International Journal of Social Welfare, Jg. 34, H. 1, S. e12655. DOI:10.1111/ijsw.12655

Abstract

"Non-standard employment (NSE) is well-documented in the domestic sector in all European countries. The precariousness and poor working conditions of this sector reflect in a labor force composed by the most vulnerable layers of the labor market, namely, migrant women. This article analyses how and to what extent a macro-level factor, that is, the gender regime (resulting from the interplay of gender equality and gendered social norms) interacts with micro-level individual and occupational characteristics to shape the prevalence of NSE in the domestic sector in Europe. We use the 2019 EU-LFS data and run a set of logistic regression analyses. Our results show that NSE is a defining feature of domestic sector, and that migrant women are at a higher risk of being in this type of employment, especially in destination countries where gender equality is relatively lower and expectations concerning care and family responsibilities are more traditional." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Gonos, George (2025): The Expanding Domains of Degraded Work in the United States: Constructing a More Comprehensive Typology of Non-standard Employment Arrangements. In: Critical Sociology, Jg. 51, H. 7-8, S. 1383-1406. DOI:10.1177/08969205241283938

Abstract

"The spread of non-standard employment (NSE) is widely considered to have contributed to the deterioration of labor standards. Yet, in the United States, there is no definitive roster of non-standard work arrangements and no reliable estimate of the size of the non-standard workforce. For over 25 years, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has produced artificially low estimates of employers’ use of ‘alternative employment arrangements’. Its 2018 Contingent Work Supplement (CWS) reported that since 1995 the proportion of US workers in these arrangements had declined. This article proposes a more systematic framework for understanding NSE in the United States and fleshes out a more comprehensive typology better suited toward addressing the needs of policymakers and labor activists. It fundamentally reorients the study of NSE by recognizing that so-called ‘alternative’ arrangements are abusive and more aptly understood as degraded work arrangements (DWAs). The article then explores the key categories of DWAs and provides a deeper analysis of one group, dissociative arrangements, that enable the flourishing use of ‘non-employee’ workers. Concluding sections address the undertheorized state of this subject area and the challenge of union organizing in fractured labor markets." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Griesbach, Kathleen (2025): Space and Inequality in Precarious Work: Thinking With and Beyond Platforms. In: Sociology Compass, Jg. 19, H. 3. DOI:10.1111/soc4.70026

Abstract

"Platform-based gig work illustrates a broader erosion of the spatial boundaries of work. While geographers have long theorized space as an integral part of capitalist work processes and social life, sociological research has often treated space as a backdrop for work processes rather than an active process shaping the social world, contemporary work, inequality, and resistance. However, important work in urban and rural sociology emphasizes the central role place plays in social life and inequality. This review synthesizes insights on space, place, and inequality and identifies key spatial continuities between platform labor and other forms of precarious work. I find common throughlines across disciplines: the intertwining of space, place, and social relations and the relevance of space and place for understanding inequality. Next, I relate spatial theories of capitalist development to contemporary precarious work. Finally, I suggest 3 promising avenues for incorporating space into research on contemporary work and inequality today: analyzing how existing inequalities intersect with the spatial features of new and enduring work structures; examining how contemporary work processes are reshaping rural and urban geographies; and identifying the spatial practices of contemporary organizing and resistance." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Guo, Ya, Sizhan Cui, Zhuofei Lu & Senhu Wang (2025): Dependence and Precarity in the Gig Economy: A Longitudinal Analysis of Platform Work and Mental Distress. In: The British journal of sociology, Jg. 76, H. 5, S. 1169-1187. DOI:10.1111/1468-4446.70028

Abstract

"While there is a growing body of literature examining platform dependence and its implications for mental health, much of the research has focused on gig workers with small sample sizes. The lack of large-scale quantitative research, particularly using longitudinal representative data, limits a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationship between platform dependence and mental distress. This study uses nationally representative data from the UK and fixed effects models to explore the heterogeneity of gig work, specifically examining differences in mental distress between high-dependence workers (those solely engaged in gig work) and low-dependence workers (those also employed in other jobs). The findings reveal that high-dependence gig workers have greater mental distress compared to low-dependence and full-time workers, with their mental well-being similar to those with no paid work. Low-dependence gig workers have lower mental distress than those without paid work. Financial precarity and loneliness partly explain these differences, with the impact stronger for highly educated high-dependence workers and less educated low-dependence workers. These findings highlight the significance of recognizing the heterogeneity of gig work in addressing future well-being challenges in a post-pandemic economy, as well as broadening the scope of the latent deprivation model to encompass the unique dynamics of gig work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Zitatform

Gürtzgen, Nicole, Alexander Kubis & Martin Popp (2025): Befristungen bei Neueinstellungen 2024. (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung. Aktuelle Daten und Indikatoren), Nürnberg, 9 S.

Abstract

"Im Rahmen der IAB-Stellenerhebung gaben die Betriebe an, im Jahr 2024 in Deutschland rund 4,4 Mio. sozialversicherungspflichtige Neueinstellungen (ohne Auszubildende und ohne MiniJobs) vorgenommen zu haben. Hiervon waren 25 Prozent, also rund 1,1 Mio. Stellen (zunächst) befristet (Tabelle 1). Die Befristung von Neueinstellungen ermöglicht den Betrieben, die Fähigkeiten von Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern zu überprüfen, bevor ein unbefristetes Arbeitsverhältnis eingegangen wird. Durch den Abschluss von befristeten Arbeitsverträgen können Betriebe ohne langfristige Mittelbindung häufig auch Jobs anbieten, die sonst vielleicht nicht finanzierbar gewesen wären. Darüber hinaus haben Befristungen für Betriebe zudem den Vorteil, dass sie (Entlassungs-)Kosten vermeiden können, die gegebenenfalls im Rahmen des allgemeinen oder tarifvertraglich erweiterten Kündigungsschutzes entstehen können (Bossler et al. 2017). Als weiteres wichtiges betriebliches Motiv für befristete Neueinstellungen ist zudem ein vorübergehender Mehrbedarf an Arbeitskräften etwa infolge temporärer Auftragsspitzen zu nennen (siehe hierzu z.B. Gürtzgen und Küfner 2023). Die Tatsache, dass Betriebe befristete Neueinstellungen vornehmen können, kann u.a. darin begründet sein, dass Betriebe über Marktmacht verfügen, die den Abschluss von befristeten Verträgen erleichtert (Bassanini et al. 2024). Zu beachten ist, dass die Befristungsquoten bei Neueinstellungen deutlich oberhalb des Anteils befristeter Beschäftigung an der Gesamtbeschäftigung liegen. Rund 2,6 Millionen Beschäftigte in Deutschland hatten laut IAB-Betriebspanel im Jahr 2022 einen befristeten Arbeitsvertrag. Das entspricht einem Anteil an allen Beschäftigten (ohne Auszubildende) von 6,6 Prozent (Hohendanner / IAB 2023). Die Diskrepanz zwischen dem Anteil befristeter Neueinstellungen und dem Befristungsanteil aller Beschäftigter zeigt, dass befristete Beschäftigungsverhältnisse in nennenswertem Ausmaß in unbefristete Arbeitsverträge umgewandelt werden (Müller et al. 2017). Bedingt durch die COVID-19-Pandemie sank 2020 der Anteil an Umwandlungen in unbefristete Beschäftigungsverhältnisse (Hohendanner 2021). Auch der Anteil befristeter Neueinstellungen stieg im Jahr 2020 gegenüber dem Vorjahr kurzfristig auf 33 Prozent. Aktuell setzt sich der seit 2004 beobachtete rückläufige Trend auch im Jahr 2024 fort. Die Befristungsquote erreicht mit 25 Prozent einen neuen Tiefststand. Der im Rahmen der Erhebung 2004 gemessene Höchststand war mit 54 Prozent mehr als doppelt so hoch." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Hansen, Mads, Ulf Banscherus, Yasmin Cherier, Jule Hoffmann & Helene Müller (2025): DGB-Hochschulreport 2025: Zwischen Stagnation und Dynamik. Studien- und Arbeitsbedingungen an staatlichen und nicht-staatlichen Hochschulen in Deutschland. (Studie / DGB-Bundesvorstand, Abteilung Bildungspolitik und Bildungsarbeit), Berlin, 94 S.

Abstract

"Die vorliegende Studie dokumentiert in Teil A die Arbeitsbedingungen an den staatlichen und den nicht-staatlichen Hochschulen im Zeitverlauf zwischen 2007 und 2022 auf Grundlage der Daten der amtlichen Statistik. Sie berücksichtigt auf Basis der verfügbaren amtlichen Daten alle Beschäftigtengruppen (inklusive der Professor*innen). Teil B befasst sich mit der Entwicklung des nicht-staatlichen Hochschulsektors in Deutschland. Außerdem zeigt der Bericht Forschungsbedarfe und weitergehende Fragestellungen auf, deren Beantwortung zu einem besseren Verständnis dieses wachsenden Bildungs- und Wirtschaftsbereichs beitragen könnten und für eine effektive und evidenzbasierte politische Steuerung unerlässlich wären. Denn die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass es dringend einer größeren Aufmerksamkeit der Hochschulpolitik wie der Zivilgesellschaft bedarf, um potenzielle Fehlsteuerungen zu vermeiden. Das Wissenschaftssystem funktioniert trotz der für Viele schwierigen Rahmenbedingungen nicht zuletzt aufgrund der hohen intrinsischen Motivation der Beschäftigten. Diese Beschäftigten haben angesichts ihres hohen Engagements statt Kurzzeit-, unfreiwilliger Teilzeit- und Kettenverträgen exzellente Arbeitsbedingungen und Karriereperspektiven verdient. Die vorliegenden, teilweise ernüchternden Ergebnisse sollen die Gewerkschaften und die Personal- und Betriebsräte bei ihrem Kampf um gute Arbeit in der Wissenschaft unterstützen. Sie sollen der Politik und den Personalverantwortlichen an den Hochschulen, insbesondere auch in Bezug auf die nicht-staatlichen Hochschulen, aufzeigen, wo die Handlungsbedarfe liegen und wo sie nachsteuern bzw. aktiv werden müssen. Denn es darf nicht vergessen werden, an den Hochschulen wird ein wesentlicher Teil der Fachkräfte von morgen qualifiziert. Und für eine rohstoffarme Industrienation muss das höchste Priorität haben. Denn Innovationen werden von Menschen gemacht. " (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Helppie-McFall, Brooke, Eric Parolin & Basit Zafar (2025): Career expectations and outcomes: Evidence (on gender gaps) from the economics job market. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 248. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105437

Abstract

"This paper investigates gender gaps in long-term career expectations and outcomes of PhD candidates in economics. For this purpose, we match rich survey data on PhD candidates (from the 2008–2010 job market cohorts) to public data on job history and publication records through 2022. We document four novel empirical facts: (1) there is a robust gender gap in career expectations, with females about 10 percentage points less likely to ex-ante expect to get tenure or publish regularly; (2) the gender gap in expectations is remarkably similar to the gap observed for academic outcomes; (3) expectations are similarly predictive of outcomes for males and females, and (4) gender gaps in expectations can explain about 22 % and 14 % of the ex-post gaps in tenure and publications, respectively. In addition, leveraging variation in relationship status at the time expectations are reported, we show that: conditional on gender, (1) expectations regarding tenure and publications do not differ systematically by relationship status, and (2) the predictive power of expectations does not differ by the relationship status of the individual." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))