35 years of reunification
3 October 2025 will mark the 35th anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany. Some of the former disparities between the economies and labour markets in the two parts of the country have diminished sharply in that time, while in other respects, parity is not on the horizon any time soon.
Is the east-west divide in terms of unemployment now smaller than the north-south divide? What impact are demographic change and structural change having on the economy and the labour market in the east and west of the country? How quickly are the regions ageing and which regions are most affected? And how have gender-specific differences in career progression between eastern and western Germany changed over time?
We have compiled a list of IAB publications and projects that help to answer these and other questions you may have about 35 years of reunification.
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