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Abendroth, Anja-Kristin, Charlotte Katharina Schröder & Sophie-Charlotte Meyer (2026): The Social Structuring of Digital Monitoring: How Resource‐Rich Employees Are Shielded From More Invasive Levels of Digital Monitoring. In: New Technology, Work and Employment, Jg. 41, H. 2, S. 240-251. DOI:10.1111/ntwe.70019

Abstract

"Digital monitoring represents a new dimension of external control. We focus on variation in the experiences and perceptions of digital monitoring among employees with differing access to resources due to their embeddedness in differentially resource-rich organizations and jobs. Based on German linked employer–employee survey data, our results suggest that employees in resource-rich organizations that are able and willing to pay relatively high wages to secure work performance are less likely to experience the use of automatically stored data on work steps for performance evaluation and to perceive digital monitoring as constant surveillance. The same is true of employees in resource-rich jobs with high task complexity. These patterns did not emerge for the mere automatic storage of data about work steps, which suggests that—in contrast to more invasivelevels of digital monitoring—employees' experiences of this basic level are less likely structured by their embeddedness in organizational inequality regimes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Alam, Afroza & André Diegmann (2026): Patents, Firm Rents, and Worker Compensation: Causal Evidence from Quasi-Random Patent Allocation. (IWH-Diskussionspapiere / Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle 2026,06), Halle, 75 S. DOI:10.18717/dp56nk-4g69

Abstract

"This paper provides new causal evidence on how patent allowances affect firms and their employees based on quasi-random assignment of patent applications to examiners. Exploiting employer–employee records with newly linked German firm data and web-scraped patent documents, we show that patent-induced shocks reduce firm exit, improve productivity, and increase wages, with rent-sharing elasticities between 0.10 and 0.21. Wage gains are broadly observed across occupational tasks, with high heterogeneity: managers benefit disproportionately in publicly traded firms, whereas broader wage increases accrue to workers in non-traded firms. Our findings highlight the role of institutional features and firm organization in shaping how rents are shared." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Alam, Afroza & André Diegmann (2026): Patents, Firm Rents, and Worker Compensation: Causal Evidence from Quasi-Random Patent Allocation. (CESifo working paper 12666), München, 75 S.

Abstract

"This paper provides new causal evidence on how patent allowances affect firms and their employees based on quasi-random assignment of patent applications to examiners. Exploiting employer–employee records with newly linked German firm data and web-scraped patent documents, we show that patent-induced shocks reduce firm exit, improve productivity, and increase wages, with rent-sharing elasticities between 0.10 and 0.21. Wage gains are broadly observed across occupational tasks, with high heterogeneity: managers benefit disproportionately in publicly traded firms, whereas broader wage increases accrue to workers in non-traded firms. Our findings highlight the role of institutional features and firm organization in shaping how rents are shared." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Alloatti, Magali & Tanja Fendel (2026): Is Germany Missing Out or Catching Up? Gender Inequality and the German Skilled Immigration Act. In: Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, S. 1-17. DOI:10.1080/15562948.2025.2606198

Abstract

"Germany’s Skilled Worker Immigration Act addresses labor shortages by targeting non-EU migrants. The literature emphasizes that such policies often overlook gender-specific challenges, reinforcing inequalities. Using the German Socio-Economic Panel (2013–2022), we reveal significant disadvantages for non-EU migrant women. We find that deskilling and the sexual division of paid and unpaid working time explain gender disparities in professional careers. Women migrating for work show lower disadvantages than other migrant women; however, they are predominantly young and without children. We advocate for gender-sensitive reforms to accompany migration laws, ensuring equitable labor market access for migrant women in Germany and especially those with children." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Taylor & Francis) ((en))

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Anker, Fritz, Marco Berg, Ralph Cramer, Christian Dickmann, Vincent Gerber, Reiner Gilberg, Birgit Jesske, Martin Kleudgen, Jonas Beste, Sandra Dummert, Corinna Frodermann, Sonja Malich, Valentina Prospero, Claudia Wenzig, Mark Trappmann, Sebastian Bähr, Matthias Collischon, Stefanie Gundert, Jan Mackeben, Marcel Müller, Jens Stegmaier & Anja Wunder (2026): Codebook and Documentation of the Panel Study „Labour Market and Social Security“ (PASS). Datenreport Wave 18. (FDZ-Datenreport 10/2025 (en)), Nürnberg, 184 S. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2510.en.v1

Abstract

"Die FDZ-Datenreporte beschreiben die Daten des FDZ im Detail. Diese Reihe hat somit eine doppelte Funktion: Zum einen stellen Nutzerinnen und Nutzer fest, ob die angebotenen Daten für das Forschungsvorhaben geeignet sind, zum anderen dienen sie zur Vorbereitung der Auswertungen. Dieser Datenreport dokumentiert die Aufbereitung der Welle 18 von PASS. Das Dokument basiert auf dem Datenreport der Welle 17: Marco Berg, Ralph Cramer, Christian Dickmann, Vincent Gerber, Reiner Gilberg, Birgit Jesske, Martin Kleudgen (alle infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH), Jonas Beste, Sandra Dummert, Corinna Frodermann, Sonja Malich, Stefan Schwarz, Claudia Wenzig, Mark Trappmann, Sebastian Bähr, Matthias Collischon, Stefanie Gundert, Benjamin Küfner, Jan Mackeben, Marcel Müller, Valentina Prospero, Jens Stegmaier, Nils Teichler, Anja Wunder (alle Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB)): Codebuch und Dokumentation des Panel „Arbeitsmarkt und soziale Sicherung“ (PASS) Band I: Datenreport Welle 17, FDZ Datenreport, 12/2024 (de), Nürnberg." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Antoni, Manfred, Mattis Beckmannshagen, Markus M. Grabka, Sekou Keita & Parvati Trübswetter (2026): Befragungsdaten der SOEP-Core-, IAB-SOEP Migrationsstichprobe, IAB-BAMF-SOEP Befragung von Geflüchteten und SOEP-Innovationssample verknüpft mit administrativen Daten des IAB (SOEP-CMI-ADIAB) 1975-2023. (FDZ-Datenreport 02/2026 (de)), Nürnberg, 91 S. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2602.de.v1

Abstract

"Dieser Datenreport beschreibt die verknüpften Befragungsdaten der SOEP-Core-, IAB-SOEP Migrationsstichprobe, IAB-BAMF-SOEP Befragung von Geflüchteten und SOEP-Innovationssample mit administrativen Daten des Instituts für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB)." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Arndt, Franziska, Paula Risius, Lydia Malin & Valeria Quispe (2026): Fachkräftemangel in KMU: Eine Analyse der Fachkräftesituation nach Betriebsgrößenklassen. (KOFA-Studie / Kompetenzzentrum Fachkräftesicherung 2026,02), Köln, 41 S.

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Aumüller, Anna, Andreas Winklbauer, Barbara Stiglbauer & Bernad Batinic (2026): Stable yet unequal: a decade of work-life balance in Germany. In: Current psychology, Jg. 45, H. 3. DOI:10.1007/s12144-025-08614-0

Abstract

"Societal shifts, digitalization, and flexibilization at the workplace have led to blurred boundaries between life and work, yet the overall development of work-life balance (WLB) over the past decade in the German population remains largely unexplored. This study leverages longitudinal quantitative data from the PASS panel, collected via telephone surveys by the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research (IAB) in Germany. Using Latent Growth Modeling, we analyzed the WLB trajectories of 1,806 German employees over a decade (2013–2022). Thus, unlike many cross-sectional studies, this research captures the long-term evolution of WLB, illuminating how it has responded to significant societal and workplace changes. Despite these changes, our findings indicate that WLB has remained generally stable over the past ten years. By incorporating person- and job-related factors (gender, parental status, career stage, job category, income group), we were also able to examine individual differences in WLB and its progression. Blue-collar workers and participants with children showed significantly lower WLB. White-collar workers were the only subgroup to show a slight decrease in WLB. These results highlight the importance of targeted interventions at both organizational and policy levels to address disparities in WLB and promote sustainable work environments." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer Nature) ((en))

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Bachbauer, Nadine (2026): NEPS-SC8 survey data linked to administrative data of the IAB (NEPS-SC8-ADIAB). (FDZ-Datenreport 05/2026 (en)), Nürnberg, 91 S. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2605.en.v1

Abstract

"This data report describes the linked survey data of Starting Cohort 8 „Education for the World of Tomorrow” of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS-SC8) with administrative data of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bachbauer, Nadine (2026): NEPS-SC8-Erhebungsdaten verknüpft mit administrativen Daten des IAB (NEPS-SC8-ADIAB). (FDZ-Datenreport 05/2026 (de)), Nürnberg, 91 S. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2605.de.v1

Abstract

"Dieser Datenreport beschreibt die verknüpften Erhebungsdaten des Nationalen Bildungspanels der Startkohorte 8 „Bildung für die Welt von morgen“ (NEPS-SC8) mit administrativen Daten des Instituts für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB)." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bachmann, Ronald, Gökay Demir, Colin Green & Arne Uhlendorff (2026): Technologischer Wandel und Löhne: Die Anpassung der Berufe spielt eine entscheidende Rolle. (IAB-Kurzbericht 01/2026), Nürnberg, 8 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.KB.2601

Abstract

"Technischer Fortschritt verändert die Arbeitswelt - besonders in Berufen, in denen viele Tätigkeiten leicht automatisiert werden können. In den letzten Jahrzehnten ist der Anteil an Routinetätigkeiten in vielen Berufen deutlich zurückgegangen - häufig zugunsten nicht routine­mäßiger kognitiver Tätigkeiten wie Analysieren, Planen oder Beraten. Dabei verzeichnen Berufe, deren Tätigkeiten sich im Laufe der Zeit stärker an den technologischen Wandel angepasst haben, steigende Löhne. Sie zeichnen sich zudem durch intensivere Weiterbildungsaktivitäten aus. In Berufen, deren Tätigkeitsprofil sich kaum verändert hat, stagnieren die Löhne dagegen häufiger." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bachmann, Ronald, Gökay Demir, Colin Green & Arne Uhlendorff (2026): How important are within‐occupation task changes for wage growth? Evidence from administrative micro data. In: Economica, S. 1-40. DOI:10.1111/ecca.70054

Abstract

"We examine how changes in task content over time condition occupational wage development. Using survey data from Germany, we document substantial heterogeneity in within-occupation changes in task content. Combining this evidence with administrative data on individual employment outcomes over a 25-year period, we find important heterogeneity in wage penalties amongst jobs that were initially routine-task-intensive. While occupations that remain (relatively) routine-intensive generate substantial wage penalties, occupations with a decreasing routine intensity experience stable or even increasing wages. These findings suggest that changing task profiles of occupations is an important adaptation mechanism to technological change. They cannot be explained by composition or cohort effects." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bachmann, Rüdiger, Christian Bayer, Heiko Stüber & Felix Wellschmied (2026): Monopsony Makes Firms Not Only Small but Also Unproductive: Why East Germany has Not Converged. In: The Review of Economic Studies. DOI:10.1093/restud/rdag033

Abstract

"When employers face a trade-off between being large and paying low wages—and in thissense have monopsony power—some productive employers decide against building large business networks, forgo sales, and remain small. These decisions have adverse consequences for aggregate labour productivity. Using high-quality administrative data from Germany, we document that East German plants (compared to West German ones) face steeper size-wage curves, invest less in their business networks, remain smaller, and are less productive. A model with labour market monopsony, product market power, and business network investments matching these features of the data predicts a 10% lower aggregate labour productivity in East Germany." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bareis, Alexander, Felix Hees & Lukas Andreas Wilzek (2026): Wie junge Menschen von Wehr- oder Zivildienst profitieren: Ein Pflichtdienst kann den Übergang in den Arbeitsmarkt begünstigen. In: IAB-Forum H. 12.02.2026. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FOO.20260212.01

Abstract

"Der Übergang von der Schule in den Arbeitsmarkt legt den Grundstein für den erfolgreichen Erwerbsverlauf junger Menschen. Angesichts der aktuellen Debatte über eine mögliche Wiedereinführung der Wehrpflicht gewinnt die Frage an Bedeutung, wie ein verpflichtender Dienst den Berufseinstieg junger Männer beeinflusst. Anhaltspunkte hierzu liefern Analysen für die Zeit der Wehrpflicht in Deutschland bis zu ihrer Aussetzung im Jahr 2011." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Bellmann, Lutz, Christian Dustmann & Bernd Fitzenberger (2026): Collective Bargaining in Germany: Trends and Challenges. (RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2026,171), Berlin, 49 S.

Abstract

"Dieser Beitrag untersucht die Entwicklung, institutionelle Ausgestaltung und gegenwärtigen Herausforderungen von Tarifverhandlungen in Deutschland. Tarifverhandlungen wirken Arbeitsmarktunvollkommenheiten entgegen, verteilen Produktivitätsgewinne und gestalten Arbeitsbedingungen. Das deutsche System beruht vor allem auf Branchentarifverträgen, ergänzt durch Firmentarifverträge und die freiwillige Tariforientierung formal nicht tarifgebundener Betriebe an den Ergebnissen von Branchentarifverhandlungen. Historisch haben Tarifverhandlungen kooperative Arbeitsbeziehungen gefördert und zugleich in wirtschaftlichen Abschwüngen Flexibilität ermöglicht. Wir beschreiben die langfristigen Rückgänge der Mitgliedschaft in Gewerkschaften und der Tarifbindung, die durch die Tariforientierung teilweise abgefedert werden. Zudem ist die Tarifbindung unter Niedriglohnbeschäftigten geringer. Abschließend erörtern wir die Zukunft des Systems von Tarifverhandlungen und der deutschen Tarifinstitutionen vor dem Hintergrund der wirtschaftlichen Transformationsprozesse und der wachsenden Bedeutung des gesetzlichen Mindestlohns und unternehmen einen Vergleich zwischen Deutschland und den USA." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bellmann, Lisa, Philipp Grunau, Susanne Kohaut, Iris Möller & Michael Oberfichtner (2026): The IAB establishment panel – an updated overview. In: Journal for labour market research, Jg. 60, H. 1, 2026-06-23. DOI:10.1186/s12651-026-00434-4

Abstract

"This article provides an overview of the IAB Establishment Panel, an annual survey of about 15,000 establishments across all industries and size classes that has been tracking labour demand and its determinants since 1993 (including East Germany since 1996). The survey samples establishments with employees subject to social security contributions disproportionately from the Federal Employment Agency’s Establishment File. Survey weights support inference to this population. The panel combines a core questionnaire on employment, business development, industrial relations, and vocational training with ad hoc modules on current topics. We also describe recent methodological developments, including the transition from paper-based interviewing to computer-assisted and partly self-administered modes and associated response patterns. The survey can be linked to administrative employee data (LIAB) and complementary employer–employee surveys (LPP), enabling matchedanalyses. Researchers can access the data via the Research Data Centre of the German Federal Employment Agency." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer) ((en))

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Bellmann, Lisa, Miriam Gensicke, Katrin Grau, Susanne Kohaut, Iris Möller, Michael Oberfichtner, Barbara Schwengler, Nikolai Tschersich & Matthias Umkehrer (2026): IAB-Betriebspanel (IAB-BP) 1993-2024. (FDZ-Datenreport 01/2026 (de)), Nürnberg, 28 S. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2601.de.v1

Abstract

"Dieser Datenreport beschreibt das IAB-Betriebspanel (IAB-BP) 1993-2024. Das IAB-Betriebspanel ist eine jährliche repräsentative Arbeitgeberbefragung zu betrieblichen Determinanten der Beschäftigung. Die Erhebung wird seit 1993 in Westdeutschland und seit 1996 auch in Ostdeutschland durchgeführt. Sie stellt die zentrale Quelle für Analysen zur Arbeitskräftenachfrage auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in Deutschland dar." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bellmann, Lisa, Miriam Gensicke, Katrin Grau, Susanne Kohaut, Iris Möller, Michael Oberfichtner, Barbara Schwengler, Nikolai Tschersich & Matthias Umkehrer (2026): IAB Establishment Panel (IAB-BP) 1993-2024. (FDZ-Datenreport 01/2026 (en)), Nürnberg, 28 S. DOI:10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2601.en.v1

Abstract

"This data report describes the IAB Establishment Panel (IAB-BP) 1993-2024. The IAB Establishment Panel is an annual representative survey on various topics such as the determinants of labour demand. It has been conducted by the IAB since 1993 in West Germany and since 1996 in East Germany, too. The IAB Establishment Panel is the central basis for the analysis of labour demand in Germany." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Berger, Viktoria, Justus Stadler & Stefanie Wolter (2026): Engagement von Betriebsräten: Schlüssel zu besserem Arbeitsschutz und mehr Gesundheit? In: Sicher ist sicher H. 1, S. 1-4. DOI:10.37307/j.2199-7349.2026.01.06

Abstract

"Der Anteil der Betriebe und Beschäftigten, die von einem Betriebsrat vertreten werden, ist seit Jahren rückläufig. Dabei sind Betriebsräte in bundesdeutschen Betrieben traditionell und gesetzlich verankert. Neben der allgemeinen Interessenvertretung haben sie ein Mitbestimmungsrecht im Bereich der Sicherheit und des Gesundheitsschutz bei der Arbeit (Arbeitsschutz). Unsere Studie zeigt, dass in Betrieben, in denen Betriebsräte engagiert wahrgenommen werden, Arbeitsbedingungen und Gesundheit positiver bewertet werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bossler, Mario, Ying Liang & Thorsten Schank (2026): The devil is in the details: Heterogeneous effects of the German minimum wage on working hours and minijobs. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 253, 2025-11-18. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105540

Abstract

"Germany introduced a national minimum wage in 2015. While prior studies find limited effects on overall employment, we go into detail and examine its impact on working hours and minijobs. The minimum wage significantly reduces inequality in hourly and monthly wages. While average working hours remain stable, minijobbers experience notable cuts in working hours, which can be explained by the institutional context shaping the effects of the minimum wage. Employment in regular jobs remains unaffected, but minijobs decline, driven by transitions into both regular jobs and non-employment. The latter implies an employment elasticity of −0.16 for minijob employment. Following the first major minimum wage increase in 2022, we reveal a reduction in working hours that is not limited to minijobs, corresponding to an employment volume elasticity of −0.38." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))

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Bossler, Mario & Martin Popp (2026): Labor Demand on a Tight Leash. In: ILR review, Jg. 79, H. 4, S. 617-651., 2025-10-21. DOI:10.1177/00197939261435961

Abstract

"Using detailed information on vacancies and job seekers, the authors study the effect of labor market tightness on labor demand for the near-universe of German firms. To this end, novel Bartik instruments are constructed that combine firms’ predetermined employment shares with nationwide shifts at the occupational level. The results show that tightness significantly reduces firms’ labor demand, implying that the observed doubling in tightness between 2012 and 2019 reduced employment by 5%. At the aggregate level, the negative tightness effect creates search externalities, which reduce the own-wage elasticity of labor demand from −0.7 to −0.5 through reallocation of workers between firms. To guide the analysis, the authors embed elements of the canonical search-and-matching model into a labor demand equation, while allowing vacancy posting costs to increase in tight markets. Through the lens of this model, the pre-match component of hiring costs amounts to 16–24% of annual wage payments." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Sage) ((en))

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Braunschweig, Luisa, Kerstin Bruckmeier, Mara Buhmann, Katrin Hohmeyer & Duncan Roth (2026): Beschäftigungsaufnahmen aus dem SGB-II-Leistungsbezug und ihre Nachhaltigkeit: Qualifikation und Berufserfahrung zahlen sich aus. (IAB-Forschungsbericht 04/2026), Nürnberg, 25 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FB.2604

Abstract

"In diesem Bericht wird die Nachhaltigkeit von Übergängen aus dem SGB-II-Leistungsbezug in sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung im Hinblick auf die aufgenommenen Berufe anhand der Daten der Stichprobe der Integrierten Grundsicherungsbiografien untersucht. Im Jahr 2018 gab es hochgerechnet rund 890.000 Übergänge von nicht erwerbstätigen Grundsicherungsbeziehenden in eine sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung. In etwa einem Drittel der Fälle wurde der Leistungsbezug nach Beschäftigungsaufnahme für mindestens sechs Monate verlassen. Etwa 55 Prozent der Personen, die im Jahr 2018 eine Beschäftigung aufgenommen haben, waren mindestens sechs Monate beschäftigt, während 41 Prozent mindestens ein Jahr lang beschäftigt waren. Knapp 70 Prozent der Beschäftigungsaufnahmen entfielen auf zehn Berufshauptgruppen. Am häufigsten wurde eine Beschäftigung in den Verkehrs- und Logistikberufen (17 Prozent) aufgenommen. An zweiter und dritter Stelle folgen Reinigungs- und Verkaufsberufe mit jeweils etwa 9 Prozent. Die Dauer der aufgenommenen Beschäftigung variiert stark zwischen den Berufen. Arbeitsaufnahmen in Erziehungsberufen sowie sozialen, hauswirtschaftlichen und theologischen Berufen sind im Durchschnitt die stabilsten mit einem Median von knapp 20 Monaten (590 Tage). Dahinter folgen Berufe in der Unternehmensführung und -organisation (circa 14 Monate) und im Bereich „Führen von Fahrzeug- und Transportgeräten“ (circa 8 Monate). Die geringste Dauer weisen dagegen die Verkehrs- und Logistikberufe mit 129 Tagen auf, doch auch in den Reinigungsberufen (210 Tage) und den Verkaufsberufen (240 Tage) ist die Beschäftigungsdauer relativ kurz. Auf Berufe mit durchschnittlich kürzerer Beschäftigungsdauer entfallen anteilig mehr Beschäftigungsaufnahmen als auf Berufe mit längeren Beschäftigungsdauern. Zudem geht das Vorhandensein von Arbeitserfahrung im aufgenommenen Beruf mit einer erhöhten Wahrscheinlichkeit für eine längere Beschäftigungsdauer einher. Vergleicht man zwei Personen mit ansonsten identischen Personen- und Jobmerkmalen, von denen die eine über ein Jahr mehr an Arbeitserfahrung im aufgenommenen Beruf verfügt als die andere, dann liegt die erwartete Wahrscheinlichkeit für eine Beschäftigungsdauer von mindestens zwei Jahren bei der Person, die um ein Jahr mehr an einschlägiger Arbeitserfahrung verfügt, um etwa 1,7 Prozentpunkte höher. Dies entspricht einem Anstieg der Wahrscheinlichkeit für eine mindestens zweijährige Beschäftigung um nahezu 6 Prozent. Allerdings schwächt sich der positive Zusammenhang zwischen der bisherigen Berufserfahrung einer Person und der Beschäftigungsdauer mit zunehmender Berufserfahrung ab." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bruckmeier, Kerstin, Torsten Lietzmann, Philipp Ramos Lobato, Jürgen Wiemers & Felix Wilke (2026): Wie sichtbar ist der Sozialstaat? Die Bekanntheit zentraler bedarfsorientierter Leistungen. In: Wirtschaftsdienst, Jg. 106, H. 5, S. 355-361., 2026-02-12. DOI:10.2478/wd-2026-0088

Abstract

"Die Bekanntheit von Sozialleistungen ist zentral, damit sozialstaatliche Sicherung ihre Funktion erfüllen kann - was nicht bekannt ist, kann auch nicht beantragt werden. Doch wie gut wissen Bürger:innen in Deutschland über zentrale bedarfsorientierte Leistungen Bescheid? Eine Auswertung des IAB-Panels „Arbeitsmarkt und soziale Sicherung“ zeigt: Das Wissen über Sozialleistungen ist erwartungsgemäß unterschiedlich verteilt. Personen, die potenziell von einer Leistung profitieren können, kennen sie in der Regel auch häufiger. Während das Bürgergeld weithin bekannt ist, weisen die Grundsicherung im Alter, das Wohngeld und der Kinderzuschlag hingegen deutlich geringere Bekanntheitswerte auf." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Brunello, Giorgio & Caroline Neuber-Pohl (2026): Emotional stability and firm productivity. Evidence from German matched employer-employee data. (RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2026,25), Berlin, 23 S.

Abstract

"Using matched employer-employee data for Germany, we estimate firm production functions augmented with workers' personality traits. We find that emotional stability is the only trait that positively affects firm productivity. Its effect shows up mainly in large firms operating with a higher than median share of educated workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Brändle, Tobias & René Kalweit (2026): Trade liberalisation and firm-level employment a case study of the EU eastern enlargement. In: Empirica, Jg. 53, H. 1, S. 201-230. DOI:10.1007/s10663-025-09670-2

Abstract

"This paper analyses employment effects of the Eastern Enlargement of the European Union (EU) in German firms. The literature has so far identified such effects using difference-in-differences estimators treating the EU Eastern Enlargement as a single event or using border regions as treatment intensity indicators. This paper re-evaluates the existing results using more recent and detailed data on actual tariff reductions. We recall that the EU Eastern Enlargement is a process of integration and continuous trade liberalization rather than a single event. We exploit that process and use actual variations in tariffs to identify causal effects of trade liberalisation on employment in German firms affected by these tariff cuts. There are negligible effects of tariff reductions from the EU Eastern Enlargement on overall employment in German firms. We find, a positive correlation between employment and tariff reductions, which is, however not causal, and potentially due to selection, as we also find higher employment growth in exporting firms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Brücker, Herbert, Yuliya Kosyakova, Nina Rother, Sabine Zinn, Elisabeth Liebau, Wenke Gider, Silvia Schwanhäuser & Manuel Siegert (2026): Exploring integration and migration dynamics: the research potentials of a large-scale longitudinal household study of refugees in Germany. In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 42, H. 1, S. 146-163., 2025-06-23. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcaf032

Abstract

"Forced migration has intensified in the 21st century, driven by conflicts, persecution, and political instability in regions such as the Middle East, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, South-East Asia, Latin America and, most recently, Ukraine. Germany has become a primary destination for refugees within the European Union and one of the largest among the OECD countries. The IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey, lunched in 2016, is a high-quality longitudinal household panel study that documents the arrival and integration trajectories of refugees who came to Germany during and after the 2015/16 surge. Based on a register-based random sample and conducted annually, the survey is integrated into the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) and linked to administrative data sources, allowing for population-level inference and rich longitudinal analyses. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including pre-migration biographies, flight experiences, entry and arrival procedures, legal status, and integration processes. The dataset includes approximately 22,000 individual respondents across 6,500 households, with data currently available for the years 2016 to 2022. This paper discusses the analytical potential of the dataset, highlighting areas where the data contributes to research on forced migration and refugee integration, and subsequently outlines the survey’s structure, questionnaire topics, and key descriptive statistics." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Brütt, Katharina & Huaiping Yuan (2026): Transparency upon request: the right to pay information and the gender pay gap. In: Economica, S. 1-37. DOI:10.1111/ecca.70051

Abstract

"Pay transparency measures are widely adopted policy instruments to decrease the gender pay gap. This paper studies a policy that grants access to wage information only upon request, analysing a German pay transparency law that grants workers the right to request information about the earnings of colleagues in comparable positions. Using large-scale administrative data and exploiting variation in exposure to the policy due to an exogenous cut-off in firm size, we investigate the causal impact of this pay transparency policy. Wages and the gender wage gap in treated firms were unaffected. The right to request wage information alone, that is, the endogenous access to wage information, is not an effective policy tool. These findings are robust, with no detectable effects in firms where pay transparency may be particularly powerful." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Busetta, Annalisa & Daria Mendola (2026): Time and resilience. Evidence from a new survey of refugees and asylum seekers in Italy. In: Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica, Jg. 80, H. 1, S. 191-202. DOI:10.71014/sieds.v80i1.555

Abstract

"Migration studies agree that resilience is a crucial dimension for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; however, how resilience differs across age groups and its association with the integration process remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the role of time on resilience. Particularly, whether resilience differs by age and whether it is related to the length of time spent in the host country. Our analysis benefits from the ItRAS (Italian Refugees and Asylum Seekers Survey), the first nationally representative survey of asylum seekers and beneficiaries of refugee status or other forms of international protection. The survey was conducted in 2024 and included individuals who had resided in Italy for at least six months but not before 2011. We explored the interplay of time and resilience, controlling for the main individual socio-demographic characteristics. The analysis was grounded in an ordinal logit regression to explain variations in the intensity of refugees’ adapting capacity (ego-resilience). Among older individuals, the probability of being highly resilient is higher than among the younger. On the contrary, there is no significant evidence of the association between the length of stay in Italy and resilience. By providing insights into the role of time in studies on resilience, this paper debunks the view of older people as more vulnerable and in need of support per se, drawing our attention to the need for an accurate vulnerability assessment that does not proceed by stereotyped macro-category." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bähr, Sebastian, Bernad Batinic & Matthias Collischon (2026): Is working from home changing the meaning of work? In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 21, H. 1, 2025-12-22. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0340452

Abstract

"Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home (WFH) has become a common practice in the workplace. This raises the question of whether WFH changes the non-monetary benefits of work, such as job quality or social contacts. Thus, in this article, we investigate how working from home affects Jahoda’s latent functions of employment as well as job quality measures. To this end, we use panel data from the German Panel Study Labour Market and Social Security (PASS) and estimate the effects of changing work patterns on the aforementioned outcomes. Our findings reveal basically no effects of WFH on job quality measures and latent benefits. This, in contrast to anecdotal evidence, implies that WFH does not harm psychological well-being." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Sage) ((en))

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Caldwell, Sydnee, Ingrid Hägele & Jörg Heining (2026): Bargaining and Inequality in the Labor Market. In: The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Jg. 141, H. 1, S. 315-371., 2025-04-16. DOI:10.1093/qje/qjaf049

Abstract

"We use novel surveys of firms and workers, linked to administrative employer-employee data, to study the prevalence and importance of individual bargaining in wage determination. We show that simple survey questions accurately elicit firms’ bargaining strategies. Using the elicited strategies for 772 German firms, we document that the majority of firms are willing to engage in individual wage bargaining. Labor market factors predict firms’ strategies better than firm characteristics. Survey responses from nearly 10,000 full-time workers indicate that most workers provide their salary expectations before they receive a job offer. Most outside offers are rejected, with the worker remaining at the incumbent firm. There is substantial heterogeneity in workers’ bargaining behavior, which translates into within-firm wage inequality. Firms that set pay via individual bargaining have a 3 percentage point higher gender wage gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Oxford University Press) ((en))

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Collischon, Matthias & Alexander Patzina (2026): Wages and institutional trust between 2019 and 2023. In: Acta sociologica, S. 1-12. DOI:10.1177/00016993261442013

Abstract

"While research on income inequality and institutional trust mainly focuses on how actual changes in inequality and individuals’ perceptions affect trust, we know little about whether changes in wages relate to institutional trust. This study investigates how institutional trust develops across wage groups over time and whether substantial wage increases are associated with changes in institutional trust. Using data from the Panel Labour Market and Social Security (PASS), we show that wage inequality decreased in Germany between 2019 and 2023. While wage levels are positively associated with trust, decreases in wage inequality do not translate into increases in trust among low-wage workers. To the contrary, whose wages increased by approximately 20% over our observation period, show a decline in institutional trust. Fixed-effects regressions reveal a statistically significant, but only weak, association between wages and institutional trust. Overall, our findings suggest that even substantial wage increases, such as those from minimum wage reforms, may not strengthen institutional trust, highlighting the limits of economic interventions in shaping citizens’ perceptions of government." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Sage) ((en))

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Collischon, Matthias & Florian Zimmermann (2026): Is Your Career Determined by the Stars? Western Zodiac Signs and Labor Market Outcomes in Germany. In: Kyklos, Jg. 79, H. 3, S. 796-805. DOI:10.1111/kykl.70057

Abstract

"An increasing share of people believes that zodiac signs predict life outcomes, like career trajectories, even though there is no scientific basis for this claim. Using German administrative data covering more than 11 million observations from 1 million individuals, we investigate whether Zodiac signs determine labor market outcomes. Since Zodiac signs are supposed to affect personality, and personality is associated with wages, Zodiac signs might shape an individual's labor market success in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Descriptively, we find that Capricorns (born mid-December to mid-January) earn, on average, slightly lower wages compared to individuals with other Zodiac signs. When applying a causal regression discontinuity design comparing only individuals born 7 days around the respective cutoffs, we find zero effects of Zodiac signs on wages, education, and managerial status. Given the considerable sample size, the zero effects are likely not caused by low statistical power but show that Zodiac signs do not determine individuals' labor market outcomes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Collischon, Matthias, Matthias Kelsch, Alexander Patzina & Felix Rahberger (2026): Arbeitsbedingungen vor, während und nach der Covid-19-Pandemie: Die Beschäftigungsqualität ist weitgehend stabil geblieben. (IAB-Kurzbericht 04/2026), Nürnberg, 8 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.KB.2604

Abstract

"Hat die Covid-19-Pandemie unsere Arbeitswelt nachhaltig verändert? Antworten auf diese zentrale Frage gibt eine eingehende Analyse der Entwicklung verschiedener Dimensionen der Beschäftigungsqualität während und nach der Pandemie. Die Autoren untersuchen in ihrer Studie Zufriedenheit mit dem Lohn, Arbeitsautonomie, Aufstiegschancen, Arbeitsbelastung und Work-Life-Balance. Neben einer umfassenden Betrachtung aller abhängig Beschäftigten liegt ein besonderes Augenmerk auf den sogenannten systemrelevanten Beschäftigten, deren Arbeitsbedingungen während der Pandemie häufig im Mittelpunkt öffentlicher Debatten standen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Collischon, Matthias & Florian Zimmermann (2026): Die Rolle von Firmen für Geschlechterungleichheit. In: S. Bothfeld, C. Hohendanner, P. Schütt & A. Yollu-Tok (Hrsg.) (2026): Geschlechtergerecht gestalten. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik, S. 253-267, 2025-10-05.

Abstract

"Dieser Beitrag untersuchte zwei Mechanismen, durch die Firmen zur Geschlechterungleichheit beitragen können. Erstens könnten Frauen seltener in Hochlohnfirmen arbeiten und zweitens könnten Frauen in derselben Firma geringere Löhne gezahlt werden. Im Hinblick auf die Arbeit in unterschiedlichen Firmen zeigt sich, dass Frauen seltener in Firmen arbeiten, die im Durchschnitt ein höheres Gehalt zahlen. Die Forschung deutet darauf hin, dass diese Segregation – also die Aufteilung von Frauen in Niedriglohnfirmen und Männern in Hochlohnfirmen – einerseits von Arbeitgeberseite bedingt ist, beispielsweise durch Diskriminierung oder durch soziale Schließung. Andererseits können Frauen sich aber auch gezielt bei Firmen bewerben, die geringere Löhne durch andere Vorteile kompensieren, wie beispielsweise seltenere Überstunden (vgl. Cha/Weeden 2014). Insgesamt können Unterschiede zwischen den Firmen, in denen Männer und Frauen arbeiten, rund ein Drittel der bereinigten Geschlechterlohnlücke erklären. Diese immer noch große, verbleibende Lohnlücke zeigt jedoch, dass es auch innerhalb von Betrieben noch Faktoren geben muss, die zu Geschlechterlohnlücken beitragen. Deshalb betrachteten wir im zweiten Schritt Lohnungleichheiten in Firmen und die Bedeutung des organisationalen Kontexts. Hierzu suchten wir gleichstellungsorientierte organisationale Maßnahmen, den Anteil von Managerinnen in Firmen und die Rolle von Tarifverträgen. Hier zeigt die Forschung, dass es jeweils Zusammenhänge mit Geschlechterlohnlücken gibt, diese jedoch nicht immer einfachen Mustern folgen. Beispielsweise könnten eine Erhöhung des Frauenanteils im Management und die Einführung betrieblicher nahmen die Geschlechterlohnlücke verringern. Für Tarifverträge hingegen ist das Bild uneindeutig. Die Forschung zeigt zwar, dass Lohnlücken in Betrieben, in denen Tarifverträge gelten, kleiner sind, jedoch verringert die Einführung eines Tarifvertrags die Lohnlücke nicht nachweislich. Insgesamt zeigt sich also, dass sowohl Segregation in verschiedene Firmen als auch der organisationale Kontext in Firmen einen substanziellen Teil der Geschlechterlohnlücke erklären kann, jedoch bleibt trotzdem ein unerklärter Rest übrig. Beispielsweise würde selbst bei Erhöhung des Frauenanteils im Management auf Parität, also 50 Prozent, immer noch eine Geschlechterlohnlücke verbleiben (Zimmermann, 2022). Zusammengefasst kann der Blick auf die Ebene von Firmen somit viel zum Verständnis der Geschlechterlohnlücke beitragen, aber sie sind nur Teil eines größeren Puzzles. Dies unterstreicht, wie vielschichtig das Problem der Geschlechterungleichheit ist und dass Maßnahmen auf vielen Ebenen - bei Individuen, in Betrieben, durch die Gesetzgebung - notwendig sind, um diese Lücken zu schließen. Weiterhin besteht auch auf der Firmenebene viel Forschungsbedarf. Während beispielsweise die Repräsentation von Frauen in verschiedenen Führungsebenen untersucht wurde, wissen wir wenig über die genauen Tätigkeiten einzelner Manager:innen, meist werden unterschiedliche Aufgabenbereiche zusammen gefasst. Somit könnte die Kategorisierung in Führungsebenen zu grob sein und eine Unterteilung nach genauen Tätigkeitsprofilen tiefere Einblicke in zugrundeliegende Mechanismen geben. Auf ähnliche Weise sind die untersuchten Maßnahmen in größere Kategorien zusammengefasst, die keine detaillierteren Aussagen erlauben. Schließlich ist auch noch unbekannt, ob die angebotenen Maßnahmen tatsächlich genutzt werden und ob deren Nutzung zur Verringerung der Lohnlücke beiträgt oder das Angebot alleine ausreicht." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

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Cordes, Simon & Max Müller (2026): Do Firms Know What Workers Want? (CRC TR 224 discussion paper series / EPoS Collaborative Research Center Transregio 224 739), Bonn, 126 S.

Abstract

"Labor supply depends on wages and amenities, and standard models implicitly assume that firms hold accurate beliefs about workers' amenity valuations. In a survey with firms and workers in Germany, we measure workers' valuations of amenities and firms' beliefs about workers' valuations. We find that firms systematically underestimate workers' valuations of all amenities. These misperceptions are driven by interpersonal projection: managers project their own preferences—they value amenities less—onto workers. Through the lens of a simple model of imperfect competition, we show that firm misperceptions result in (i) labor shortages and (ii) excess labor costs for biased firms, and increase the market power of unbiased firms. Empirical tests confirm these predictions: a simple calibration suggests that non-providing firms could reduce their labor costs by 5% by providing amenities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Costas-Fernández, Julián, Sebastian Findeisen, Anna Raute & Uta Schönberg (2026): Family-Friendly Workplace Policies. (RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2026,141), Berlin, 67 S.

Abstract

"This paper examines firms' incentives to provide workplace amenities, focusing on employer-provided childcare, and the implications for gender inequality. Using rich matched employer-employee data linked to a comprehensive firm survey in Germany, we document substantial and persistent effects of employer-provided childcare on mothers' labor market trajectories. Firms that offer childcare experience higher retention rates and notably shorter career interruptions among first-time mothers, especially those with high pre-birth wages, resulting in meaningful reductions in child penalties of 4.7 percentage points for high-wage mothers. The adoption of firm provided childcare is also associated with stronger employment growth -particularly among mothers and female talent in high-wage occupations-without systematic adverse wage effects for women or mothers. Our findings align with models of imperfect competition, indicating that firms with greater monopsony power have stronger incentives to provide valuable workplace amenities. While firm-provided childcare plays a critical role in reducing gender gaps within firms, our findings also show that access to these benefits is uneven, widening disparities among women and mothers across firms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Crome, Anja, Bernd Fitzenberger, Steffen Kaimer, Dana Müller, Haika Otholt & Philipp Vom Berge (2026): Einschätzung des IAB zum Forschungsdatengesetz (FDG). Stellungnahme des IAB zur Verbändebeteiligung des Bundesministeriums für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt am 15.1.2026. (IAB-Stellungnahme 04/2026), Nürnberg, 15 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.SN.2604

Abstract

"Im Rahmen der Verbändebeteiligung des Bundesministeriums für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt am 15.1.2026 hat das IAB eine Stellungnahme zum Referentenentwurf eines Gesetzes zur verbesserten Nutzung von Daten für die Forschung (FDG) – Forschungsdatengesetz – abgegeben. Das IAB begrüßt das FDG mit seinem Ziel, den Datenzugang für die Forschung zu verbessern und Datenverknüpfungen für Forschungszwecke auszubauen, schlägt aber zu bestimmten Aspekten und bei entstehenden Widersprüchen oder Risiken Verbesserungen vor. Zudem wird eine Abschätzung der erwartbaren Aufwände am IAB für Datenlieferungen an das Deutsche Zentrum für Mikrodaten gegeben. DOI" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Daiger von Gleichen, Rosa, Marina Hagen & Daniela Grunow (2026): Employer childcare and flexible working in Germany and the United States: How relevant are female leaders and organised labour? In: Journal of international and comparative social policy, Jg. 42, H. 2, S. 142-158. DOI:10.1017/ics.2026.10093

Abstract

"This study examines how public policy and organisational characteristics relate to employer family policies, applying a theory-testing approach at the meso (employer) level. Expanding debates in comparative research on employer behaviour, we distinguish analytically between normative and economic logics and assess their explanatory relevance across policy contexts. Comparing Germany (IAB Establishment Panel) and the United States (National Study of Employers), the findings indicate that normative logics better explain employer-provided childcare, which is more prevalent in Germany, where economic pressure should generally be lower. By contrast, economic logics better explain employer-provided flexible working in the absence of public flexible-work policy. However, when examining female leadership and organised labour at the organisational level, the expected alignment between policy context and dominant logic does not always hold. Taken together, the findings show that meso-level tests of competing logics can clarify how employee segments relate to employer family policies across contexts." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Dettmann, Eva (2026): Investment grants: curse or blessing for employment? In: The Annals of Regional Science, Jg. 75. DOI:10.1007/s00168-026-01481-y

Abstract

"In this study, establishment-level employment effects of investment grants in Germany are estimated. In addition to the quantitative effects, I provide empirical evidence of funding effects on different aspects of employment quality (earnings, qualifications, and job security) for the period 2004 to 2020. The database combines project-level treatment data, establishment-level information on firm characteristics and employee structure, and regional information at the district level. For the estimations, I combine the difference-in-differences approach of Callaway and Sant’Anna (J Econom 2252: 200–230, 2021) with ties matching at the cohort level. The estimations yield positive effects on the number of employees, but point to contradicting effects of investment grants on different aspects of employment quality." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, ©Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Diegmann, André, Sandra Gottschalk, Mirja Hälbig, Alexandra Schmucker, Stefanie Wolter & Florian Zimmermann (2026): MUP-BHP - Enriching Administrative Establishment Data with Commercial Enterprise Data. In: Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik, S. 1-12. DOI:10.1515/jbnst-2026-0014

Abstract

"The recently established link between the Mannheim Enterprise Panel (MUP), developed by the ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, and the administrative establishment information from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) provides a novel opportunity to combine enterprise-level information with establishment-level labour market data. The core MUP-data are originally collected by Creditreform e.V., a credit rating agency that shares the data with the ZEW for quality assurance and economic research purposes. The establishment-level information is derived from social security notifications. Both data sources are highly complete and of high quality. Linking the two data sources provides information on both enterprise and establishment characteristics for the majority of active businesses in terms of employment and finance, across a longitudinal time series. This paper describes the linkage, the cleaning steps, and the final data product, and how it can be accessed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Diegmann, André & Alexander Kubis (2026): Überbordende Bürokratie: Wie sie den Personalbedarf in Unternehmen steigert. In: Zukunftsstandort Deutschland H. 17.02.2026, 2026-02-17.

Abstract

"Deutschland verzeichnet seit der Corona-Pandemie eine deutlich schwächere wirtschaftliche Dynamik als vergleichbare Länder. Im Jahr 2025 ist die Zahl der Arbeitslosen bereits im dritten Jahr in Folge gestiegen, während die Wirtschaft nach zwei Rezessionsjahren preisbereinigt lediglich um 0,2 Prozent gegenüber dem Vorjahr wächst. Neben konjunkturellen Schwankungen spielen dabei strukturelle Faktoren eine zentrale Rolle. Zu diesen zählt auch eine als überbordend wahrgenommene Bürokratie, die für Unternehmen ein Standorthemmnis darstellt und zu einer geringeren gesamtwirtschaftlichen Leistung beiträgt." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Diegmann, André, Steffen Müller & Benjamin Schoefer (2026): Off the Labor Supply Curve: The Zero Employer Size Wage Effect Within Large Firms. (NBER working paper / National Bureau of Economic Research 35265), Cambridge, Mass, 80 S.

Abstract

"We revisit the employer size wage effect (ESWE) - arguably the most basic and influential departure from the law of one price for labor. Our main result is that this canonical fact disappears completely across establishments within the same firm, even though they operate in different local labor markets. We uncover and dissect this fact by including a firm fixed effect in otherwise standard cross-sectional regressions of wages on establishment size. We implement this demanding specification in population-wide triple-linked firm-establishment-employee data in Germany. This result is new in the ESWE literature (for which our paper also provides the first systematic meta-analysis). This wage-size decoupling is hard to square with the view that employment is determined along a finitely elastic employer-specific labor supply curve - i.e., employers pay exactly the minimum needed for the quantity of labor, but no more - the foundation of the monopsony view. Bycontrast, large multi-establishment firms (MEF) appear to hire off their labor supply curves (or those curves are very elastic), pay wage premia above the monopsonistic minimum, and leave excess labor supply. We find some evidence for a reemergence of the ESWE within low-premium MEFs. Overall, at least for the 25% of German employment in large firms for which the ESWE disappears, wage setting and employment determination may be better accounted for by alternative models, namely accommodating above-market-clearing wage premia and rationing of labor supply, such as efficiency wage theories." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Drasch, Katrin & Gerhard Krug (2026): Finding a job through social networks - Monetary and nonmonetary returns for employed and unemployed job seekers. (SocArXiv papers), 40 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/kz9e6_v1

Abstract

"This study examines the impact of job vacancy information obtained through personal contacts on monetary and nonmonetary job search outcomes. We hypothesise that the effects will be positive for both kinds of outcome, and that these effects may depend on employment status prior to finding a new job. Additionally, we hypothesise that information from professional personal contacts will lead to better job search outcomes than information from private personal contacts. We use panel data from the German Panel Study "Labour Market and Social Security" (PASS) and fixed effects regressions to test these hypotheses. Monetary outcomes are measured by wages and nonmonetary outcomes by job satisfaction. Overall, we find that the employed tend to benefit more than the unemployed. However, the specific pattern differs depending on whether vacancy information stems from personal or professional contacts and on the type of outcome (monetary or nonmonetary)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Drasch, Katrin & Gerhard Krug (2026): Finding a job through social networks: monetary and nonmonetary returns for employed and unemployed job seekers. In: European Societies, S. 1-28. DOI:10.1162/euso.a.106

Abstract

"This study examines the impact of job vacancy information obtained through personal contacts on monetary and nonmonetary job search outcomes. We hypothesise that the effects will be positive for both kinds of outcome, and that these effects may depend on employment status prior to finding a new job. Additionally, we hypothesise that information from professional personal contacts will lead to better job search outcomes than information from private personal contacts. We use panel data from the German Panel Study “Labour Market and Social Security” (PASS) and fixed effects regressions to test these hypotheses. Monetary outcomes are measured by wages and nonmonetary outcomes by job satisfaction. Overall, we find that the employed tend to benefit more than the unemployed. However, the specific pattern differs depending on whether vacancy information stems from personal or professional contacts and on the type of outcome (monetary or nonmonetary)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Drechsel-Grau, Moritz (2026): Employment and Reallocation Effects of Higher Minimum Wages. In: Journal of Political Economy Macroeconomics. DOI:10.1086/741546

Abstract

"This paper studies the employment and reallocation effects of minimum wages in Germany in a search-and-matching model with endogenous job search effort and vacancy posting, multiple employment levels, a progressive tax-transfer system, and worker and firm heterogeneity. I find that minimum wages up to 70% of the median wage significantly increase productivity, hours worked and output without reducing employment. In frictional labor markets, however, reallocation takes time whenever the minimum wage cuts deep into the wage distribution. I show that gradually implementing a high minimum wage is necessary to avoid elevated unemployment rates during the transition." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Duan, Yige, Oskar Jost, Ramona Jost & Holger Seibert (2026): Beyond lost earnings: Job displacement and the cost of commuting. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 255, 2026-01-16. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2026.105579

Abstract

"We examine the impact of involuntary job displacement on workers ’ commuting behavior and its implications for the overall welfare cost of job loss. Using geo-referenced employee-employer data from Germany (2000–2017), we track workers’ door-to-door commuting and relocation patterns between home and work. After displacement, workers commute 23.1% (3.38 kilometers) farther to new jobs, and the effect diminishes over time due to job changes rather than home relocation. The simultaneous wage and commuting effects suggest that wage differentials across jobs fail to compensate for commuting costs. An on-the-job search model with heterogeneous firm productivity and commuting distance rationalizes the findings, and structural estimates reveal that an average German worker ’s commuting costs equal 20.2 euros per day. Hence, longer commutes exacerbate the total cost of job displacement by one-fifth of the wage losses." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.) ((en))

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Duletzki, Lisa-Marie & Nayeon Lim (2026): Can early public childcare reduce child penalties? Evidence from Germany. In: Journal of Public Economics, Jg. 258, 2026-04-09. DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2026.105651

Abstract

"This paper studies the effects of public childcare expansion for children under age three in Germany on mothers’child penalties. Exploiting county-level variation in the expansion, we find that a 20-percentage-point increase in childcare coverage rate reduces earnings penalties by 4.5 percentage points. This accounts for about 56% of the total 8-percentage-point decline in earnings penalties over the reform period. Early childcare increases employment and days worked, especially in full-time and non-marginal positions. It also raises daily wages and increases the likelihood that mothers work in higher-paying firms and occupations. These effects persist beyond the early childcare eligibility period. We further identify two key contextual factors explaining the positive effects of early childcare: the initial level of child penalties and reliance on informal care. In settings with high child penalties and limited alternatives, early public childcare can yield substantial lasting benefits for mothers’ careers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))

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Eckardt, Dita (2026): Training Specificity and Occupational Mobility: Evidence From German Apprenticeships. In: Econometrica, Jg. 94, H. 3, S. 741-766. DOI:10.3982/ecta21835

Abstract

"Apprenticeships play a key role in enabling successful school-to-work transitions in many countries, but in the presence of imperfect information, the specificity of this type of training may entail important costs for those working outside their training fields. I study this issue in one of the most prominent training settings, the German apprenticeship system. Using administrative data and a broad occupational classification, I find that 40% of individuals work in occupations different from their training. I estimate the cost of mismatch using vacancy instruments and extend methodological approaches in high-dimensional selection settings. Lacking training in one's occupation entails an average wage penalty of 14%, the equivalent of two years of work experience. The penalty increases with the task distance between training and occupation. My findings suggest that retraining is crucial to mitigate the adverse consequences from imperfect information in specialized training settings." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Ehab, Maye, Kseniia Gatskova & Yuliya Kosyakova (2026): Can I Take It with Me? Skills Transferability and Human Capital Investments Among Refugees. In: O. Winkler & M. Olczyk (Eds.) (2026): Educational Integration of Refugees and Newly Arrived Immigrants, S. 121-141, 2026-02-02. DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-25346-0_6

Abstract

"This chapter explores the factors IAB that shape the intentions of Ukrainian refugees to invest in post-migration human capital in Germany. Guided by theory of post-migration human capital investments (IHCI) and using a vignette experiment among Ukrainian refugees within the online high frequency survey of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey we examine how human capital transferability, opportunity costs, and settlement intentions affect people’s willingness to invest in vocational training. Our findings suggest that refugees’ post-migration educational intentions generally align with the IHCI model: refugees weigh costs and expected benefits, taking into account the usability of qualifications over time. Alongside transferability of skills from abroad to Germany, the potential transferability of acquired skills in Germany to abroad play a significant role in people’s decisions, especially if refugees intend to stay in the host country only temporarily." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Faia, Ester, Benjamin Lochner & Benjamin Schoefer (2026): Monopsony, Markdowns, and Minimum Wages. (NBER working paper / National Bureau of Economic Research 34699), London, 80 S.

Abstract

"This paper presents the first direct test of two interlinked predictions at the core of the monopsony theory of the labor market: (i) that firms exploit wage-setting power by marking down wages below the marginal revenue product of labor, and (ii) that exogenous wage constraints, if binding, eliminate markdowns. Our research design revisits the 2015 introduction of a high minimum wage in Germany. Drawing on a monopsony model, we derive an empirically tractable difference-in-differences specification that provides a quantitative benchmark for the firm-level markdown response. Our main result is that empirical markdowns respond only 0–25% as much as the monopsony model would have predicted. Hence, at least for the labor market segment we study, (i) markdowns largely reflect other distortions than monopsony, (ii) markdowns are mismeasured, (iii) minimum wages induce widespread labor shortages, or (iv) the standard monopsony model does not provide a full, realistic account of the labor market." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)