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Functions at the IAB

Professional background

Dr Anja Warning (née Kettner) graduated in 1998 from Humboldt University and the Technical University of Berlin with a degree in economics. After holding teaching and research positions at the University of Hamburg (Chair of Microeconomics), the Technical University of Berlin (Chair of Macroeconomics), and Indiana University Bloomington (School of Public and Environmental Affairs), she became a research associate at the IAB in 2004. From 2008 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2016, she headed the IAB Job Vacancy Survey, a quarterly representative business survey for the analysis of labour demand and hiring processes. In 2012, Anja Warning submitted the first economic dissertation on “Skilled Labor Shortages and Bottlenecks in Germany” and received her Ph.D. (Dr. rer. oec) with the distinction summa cum laude.

Since 2016, she has been working as senior economist in the Forecasts and Macroeconomic Analysis research department. Here she combines microeconomic and macroeconomic perspectives for the empirical analysis of labour market developments. A current focus lies on the extent and causes of skilled labour shortages and the dynamics of recruitment processes, both at the macroeconomic level and within individual industries and occupational fields. Another focus is on the labour market effects of digitalization and artificial intelligence. Since 2025, she has also been working on the impact of the international tariff conflicts on economic sectors and employment. 

Her research findings are the basis for her wide economic policy advisory work and media activities.

Activities