Qualifications and employment situation in Germany - 20 years of BIBB/IAB surveys

Abstract

"After four BIBB/IAB surveys of the labour force focusing on the gaining and use of vocational qualifications, which cover a period of about 20 years, the time has come for a provisional appraisal. The BIBB/IAB surveys are large representative surveys of 0.1% of the labour force in Germany concerning qualifications, career history and current occupational situation. These surveys are conducted jointly by the Federal Institute for Vocational Training Affairs (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung - BIBB) and by the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) at intervals of 6-7 years. The aim of the studies is to obtain for the particular time of the survey differentiated representative information about the labour force on the one hand and about jobs in Germany on the other. As regards research into occupation and qualification the surveys constitute a socialscience addition to the microcensus survey conducted annually by the Federal Statistical Office, whose legally stipulated questionnaire is restricted to a few structural variables, though they are central ones. The sample size of the BIBB/IAB surveys, which is unusually large for such surveys in empirical social research, permits differentiated analyses of occupational fields, industries and various labour force sub-groups. Each of the individual surveys has a special focus subject. With all flexibility in incorporating new subject areas, in the four surveys conducted so far a broad set of comparable variables was included in order to determine structural changes over time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Dostal, W. & Jansen, R. (2002): Qualifikation und Erwerbssituation in Deutschland - 20 Jahre BIBB/IAB-Erhebungen. In: Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Vol. 35, No. 2, p. 232-253.