Country report: Germany

Abstract

"The total population in Germany amounted to 83.0 million by the end of the year 2018 and exceeded the threshold of 83 million for the first time. The part of the population that is relevant for the labour market is called labour force potential. These people are either employed, unemployed (ILO) or belong to the hidden reserve. The IAB calculations comprise people aged 15 to 74 and take their specific participation rates into account. In 2018, labour force potential amounted to 47.5 million, about 57 percent of the total population. Labour force potential is driven by three components: demography, migration, and participation. The demographic component, which comprises an ageing of the population and a birth deficit, has a negative impact on the labour force. This effect has been compensated for the last decades by a positive migration inflow and rising participation rates. In the future, as section 2 shows, the demographic component is expected to outnumber the joint effect of migration and participation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Klinger, S. & Fuchs, J. (2019): Country report: Germany. In: H. Räisänen & T. Maunu (Hrsg.) (2019): Effects of population changes in the labour market: an analysis of six European countries, Helsinki, p. 54-66.