What is the IAB Establishment Panel?
The IAB Establishment Panel is an annual representative employer survey examining the factors influencing employment in Germany. The survey was first launched in 1993 in western Germany and later expanded to include the new federal states in 1996.
Every year, from the end of June to October, approximately 15,000 establishments of all sizes and in all economic sectors in Germany are surveyed. These establishments must have at least one employee subject to social security contributions. The survey is conducted by Verian (registered as Mantle Germany GmbH, formerly Kantar Public), Munich, on behalf of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) in face-to-face, telephone or online interviews.
The importance of the representative establishment survey, which covers a broad range of questions concerning numerous employment policy subjects, is announced in a letter from the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Employment Agency (PDF) and one from the President of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), accompanied by a data privacy declaration. As well as the standard questions that are repeated every year, there are also questions on topical subjects.
This exhaustive longitudinal dataset serves as the source for analyses of labour demand within the German job market. The information provided by the establishments is intended to assist in aligning the placement and advisory activities of the Federal Employment Agency with the reality that such businesses face. The analyses are also used for decision-making by politicians, management and labour representatives, and trade associations.
Which establishments are surveyed?
The establishments are randomly selected from the process data of the Federal Employment Agency, which includes just over 2.1 million establishments. This employer database is derived from the employee statistics dataset, comprising all employees subject to social security and the identification number of their establishment. The sampling is based on 20 sectors and 10 classes classifying the establishment sizes.
How many establishments are surveyed? (scope of the survey)
Since 1996, the eastern German states have been contributing financially to the IAB-Establisment Panel, and since 2000, the western German states have also contributed. This financial participation has enabled to increase the sample size to enable evaluations at the state level. Approximately 15,000 establishments in Germany are surveyed each year.
Who conducts the survey?
Verian (registered as Mantle Germany GmbH, formerly Kantar Public), Munich, employs specially trained interviewers to conduct interviews with establishments on behalf of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). In the new federal states, Verian collaborates with SÖSTRA, Berlin, to ensure that the unique characteristics of these regions are adequately addressed in the survey.
Contact at Verian Germany: Nikolai Tschersich
What questions are asked?
This survey of establishments has two objectives. First, it is intended to facilitate analysis of structures, situations, and background information regarding problems faced by establishments. Second, it is designed to assess employer and current expectations for the future. A wide range of questions is used to gather the following information:
- Employment trends (production, revenue, working hours, investment, capacity utilisation)
- Demand for labour and employee expectations (vacancies, open positions, staff turnover, employment policies)
- Status of and developments in technology and organisational matters, as well as their effects on jobs
- Determinants of productivity, e.g. technical, organisational and economic factors
- Biographical data
- Utilisation of funding and other support measures
- Training and employee development activities.
The questionnaire is revised each year and supplemented by questions on topical subjects.
How is data protected?
The collection, processing, and anonymization of all data is conducted by Verian Germany, Munich. The data remains anonymous so that the surveyed establishments cannot be identified. To ensure the confidentiality of the data, Verian employs a process that involves the separation of the address from the data and the subsequent allocation of a code number. The data are stored in a file without a name and address. This process ensures that it is not possible to link the data to a particular establishment.
Who evaluates the results of the survey?
The evaluation of the data is primarily conducted by the Institute for Employment Research, with a focus on aligning with the requirements established by the Federal Employment Agency. The ministries of the federal states that cooperate with the Institute for Employment Research have commissioned several research institutes to conduct regional evaluations. These institutes are restricted in their access to data, being permitted only to use information from their respective federal states while being precluded from accessing data from other federal states. All institutes involved are obligated to maintain legal data security and adhere to the prevailing legal regulations concerning data protection.
Who uses the results of the survey?
Credible studies that can be used to make timely policy recommendations depend on the availability of valid and reliable data. The insights derived from the information concerning individual establishments also contribute to the decision-making processes of management and labour representatives, as well as various associations.
The Federal Employment Agency is obligated to provide labour market advice and to conduct labour market and employment research. The IAB Establishment Panel, as a representative employer-based monitoring system, provides information on the parameters that determine how and why employers use labour. The insights gained are intended to help optimise the work done at the employment agencies and the regional directorates for their customers.
Employers can use the results of the IAB Employment Panel for benchmarking purposes, i.e. to see how their own business compares with other businesses of a similar size or that operate in the same sector.
The IAB Establishment Panel is also of particular interest to the research community because it is the first representative dataset covering the entire economy that can be used to analyse the demand side of the labour market.