Long-term labour force projections for Germany

Abstract

"This paper outlines the labour supply concept used by the IAB. In addition, it presents the results of our most recent long-term labour force projection for western Germany.Labour supply projections are relevant within the scope of a labour market information system. The number of jobs needed is determined by first calculating how many people want to participate in the labour market. The labour supply is measured by the labour force approach, usually as defined by ILO. Similar to this definition the labour force is quoted as the number of gainfully employed persons plus the number of (registered) unemployed people in Germany. This number is to indicate the overall supply of labour available to the economy. When compared with the demand for labour it should indicate how far a specific labour market situation deviates from a previously observed situation of high employment. In our view this labour force concept fails to answer a number of important questions, though. Hence the IAB prefers to apply a different concept to measure the overall supply of labour." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Fuchs, J. (1995): Long-term labour force projections for Germany. The concept of the potential labour force. In: IAB Labour Market Research Topics No. 11, p. 1-28.