Labour market decisions are supported by scientifically sound advice as in hardly any other policy field. The IAB makes a central contribution to this. We research the labour market in its entirety from the point of view of different disciplines and in the societal context. Besides, results also have to be generated and made available at short notice in some cases. This is all the more so because our research is also strongly focused on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the war against Ukraine on the economy, labour market and refugee migration. Here you can find a thematic overview of our research.
In this field, the IAB 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.
The opportunities and risks of the labour market are closely linked to education and qualifications. In the ‘Education and the labour market’ focus area, the IAB studies these links by looking at how education is obtained and utilised over the course of a lifetime.
The IAB analyzes the different stages of life, the way that lives progress and their interrelationships. It also looks at the opportunities for participation and the associated risks. The unemployed, benefit recipients and people on low wages or with limited participation in working life are of particular interest in this respect.
The IAB combines basic, methodological research with application-oriented research into employment and the labour market. This includes collecting and processing a wide range of data and making it available to the international research community.
The IAB 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.
In this field, the IAB 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
