Does low-wage work in Germany mainly affect atypical employees?

Abstract

"In this paper we address the question as to whether and to what extent workers in atypical employment are affected by low wages (below two-thirds of the hourly median wage). Our analysis is based on quantitative data (using the GSOEP) and on qualitative interviews at establishment level in various industries. We find that employees in marginal part-time work (mini-jobs), agency workers and employees with fixed-term contracts are particularly affected by low pay, whereas the share of low-wage workers among regular part-timers (covered by the social insurance System) is only slightly above average. In 2006, atypical employees (without double count) accounted for around two thirds of all low-paid workers and thus much more than in 1995 (slightly below 49 %). However, this does not mean that low pay in Germany is concentrated only on atypical workers or particular groups such as low-skilled or young employees. The paper shows that the rise in low-wage employment since the mid-1990s in Germany has also increasingly affected even full-time employees, qualified workers with certified vocational training and the middle-aged groups (aged 25 to 54)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Kalina, T. & Weinkopf, C. (2008): Konzentriert sich die steigende Niedriglohnbeschäftigung in Deutschland auf atypisch Beschäftigte? In: Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung, Vol. 41, No. 4, p. 447-469.