As in hardly any other policy field, labour market decisions are supported by scientifically sound advice. The Institute for Employment Research (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, IAB) makes a central contribution to this. The IAB researches the entire range of the labour market from the point of view of different disciplines and in the social context. High-quality research and comprehensive, secure data bases form the foundation of sound policy advice and professional knowledge transfer.
To communicate our work in an even more transparent way and to intensify our networking also within the Institute, we have established a new structure with ten focus areas. Eight of these focus areas refer to research in terms of contents, one of them is dedicated to data and methods. Two further focus areas represent science-oriented services.
In the "Labour Market in Structural Change" focus area, research is conducted into how overarching transformation processes and events affect the labour market.
The "Labour market policy" focus area casts a light on the instruments and regulations of labour market policy, with an emphasis on its implementation and effects, and how these effects come about.
In "The Firms´ Side of Work" focus area, the IAB studies companies’ demand for labour, the corporate culture of companies and the working conditions of employees.
Labour market opportunities and risks are closely related to education and qualifications. The IAB investigates these interrelationships in the "Education and Labour Market” focus area and considers the acquisition and utilisation of education and training over the entire life course.
In the "Labour Force Participation, Poverty, and Social Policy" focus area, the IAB analyses the development of life situations, life contexts, and life courses, as well as participation opportunities and risks. The unemployed, basic income recipients and people on low wages or with limited participation in working life are of particular interest in this respect.
With the "Research Data and Methods" focus area, the IAB combines methodological basic research with application-oriented labour-market and occupational research. This includes the collection and processing of various data and making them available to the international research community.
The "Macroeconomy" focus area explores the labour market from a broad perspective, in particular looking at supply and demand, the way in which the market functions, the role of labour market institutions, internationalisation processes and the factors that influence labour market activity at the macroeconomic level. This provides the basis for forecasts and scenario analyses regarding future trends.
The "International and regional labour markets" focus area brings together all geographical aspects of employment research. In addition to the analysis of the differences between and within regions, this includes matters relating to migration and integration, studies into the effects of globalisation and Europeanisation, and international comparisons.
The labour market and the world of work are constantly evolving. Stakeholders from the social partners, from politics, from practice such as labour market policy-makers and vocational counselling practitioners, as well as the general public need reliable information and scientifically grounded recommendations for action, as does the public. The IAB provides them in a form suitable for the target groups. The IAB publishes research findings for the scientific community in specialist journals and its own publication series.
The IAB acts responsibly and reliably towards its employees, other departments of the Federal Employment Agency and external partners. The public funds entrusted to the IAB are used effectively and economically.
