Abstract

For the english abstract I would suggest these minor revisions:Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) jobs are widely seen as the jobs of tomorrow. In this project, we investigate the role of STEM workers in driving the evolution of wages in West Germany since the 1980s. Using detailed administrative data, we document the extent of “STEM shortage” in the labor market and measure the wage differential between STEM and non-STEM workers. The main contribution is a deeper analysis of the evolution of the STEM premium using a combination of different empirical approaches. To date, there is no systematic evidence on the role of STEM occupations for changes in the German wage structure. Therefore, we contribute to the literature on the drivers of wages and inequality in Germany and specifically on the role of STEM skills.