The IAB considers evidence-based policy counselling to be its key task. The IAB strives to maintain and further develop the high level of its research, counselling as well as data production and provision, which is also certified by the German Council of Science and Humanities. High-quality research and comprehensive, secure data bases form the foundation of sound policy advice and professional knowledge transfer at the Institute.
The research agenda of the IAB includes such integral parts as evaluation of labour market policy measures, studies on education and further training, on operational and regional aspects of the labour market, on the change in employment forms, as well as on short- and long-term labour market forecasts.
Since early 2020, we have been intensively examining the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy, labour market and society. In doing this, our special focus is on the situation in establishments, on the vocational training market and the social policy-related consequences of the crisis. In 2022, the effects of the war against Ukraine on the economy, labour market and refugee migration also became part of our research.
Our scientific research also deals with the three societal megatrends: digitalisation, decarbonisation and demographic change. These will massively change the labour market in the coming years. In addition to this, we keep on actively dealing with the issues of migration and integration, and the change of social security systems.
The IAB is one of the most significant producers of socio-scientific research data. The quality of these data is of enormous importance in this context. Many of our findings are based on the extensive surveys of our own as well as the statistical data of the Federal Employment Agency. The data are prepared for the research purposes of the IAB but can also be used to a limited extent by external scientists via our Research Data Centre (FDZ). The organisational proximity to the Federal Employment Agency and the connection to the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs guarantee that the research results are promptly available not only to the scientific community but also to the major decision-makers from politics and practice.
Legal mandate
The IAB conducts its research on the basis of two legal mandates. Sections 280 and 282 Para. 1 of Book Three of the German Social Code (SGB III) assign the IAB the task of labour market and employment research. Detailed determination beyond certain thematic minimum requirements regarding impact research is not provided, also in order to ensure the freedom of sciences pursuant to Article 5 (3) of the German Basic Law. The IAB is solely responsible for further organisation of the labour market and employment research.
Basically, this also applies to the second legal research mandate given the IAB according to Section 55 Para. 1 of Book Two of the German Social Code (SGB II) with the introduction of basic benefits for job-seekers in 2005. As opposed to the SGB III research, the implementation of this second research mandate is based on a target agreement concluded with the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs every four years. Here, the general thematic orientation of the research agenda is agreed upon with the Ministry, but not the individual projects.
Freedom of research
Within the framework of its legal mandate, the IAB enjoys unrestricted freedom of research. This freedom of research implies that the IAB is not only free to decide on the research issues, but also on the place and time of their publication. The only exceptions are accepted by the IAB in the sub-areas of research funded by third parties. Temporary contractual restriction of the rights of use and publishing is possible here. Additionally, the freedom of research of the IAB is institutionally secured by the Framework Rules of Operation of the IAB with the Federal Employment Agency as well as by a cooperation agreement with the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs.
Project planning
The IAB’s annual project plan provides information on current areas of focus and research topics. In the context of its project planning, the IAB takes particular account of the advice and insight required by the Federal Employment Agency, by its self-governance bodies and its local organisational units (regional directorates, employment agencies and job centres) and by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
IAB project plan for 2024 (PDF, in German)