The research examines, on the one hand, on vocational orientation, vocational and educational aspirations, and post-school educational decisions that are relevant for the transition from school to vocational training, academic studies, or the labour market. Both transitions from training programmes and transitions from the regular education system are considered.
On the other hand, the IAB analyses the framework conditions and effects of continuing education and training, and explores how formal academic and vocational qualifications, and non-formal and informal continuing professional development, are obtained. Another focus of research is the importance – to companies and individuals – of continuing professional development in times of technological change. The effects of institutional changes and measures taken by the Federal Employment Agency play a key role in this context. These measures include, for example, measures to provide vocational guidance to pupils or the promotion of continuing vocational training.
Research has unique datasets at its disposal: in addition to administrative data, survey data such as the National Education Panel (Nationales Bildungspanel), the IAB Establishment Panel (IAB-Betriebspanel) or specially collected data such as that of the study on the vocational orientation of pupils form the basis for analysis.
A number of projects in 2024 will investigate the mismatch between supply and demand in the educational market, shining a light on the difficulties faced by companies in filling apprenticeships and on the continuing decline in applications. One area of research analyses the factors that influence young people’s interest in apprenticeships and which they choose to apply for, and delves into the regional differences in the supply of, and demand for, apprenticeships.
In the context of continuing professional development, a particular focus is on the potential obstacles to accessing continuing professional development faced by various groups of people. The individual expectations in relation to the costs and benefits of continuing professional development and the development of corporate continuing professional development measures are just some of the topics under the microscope.
Other projects study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education both before and after starting working life, with one of the goals being to learn lessons for future crises. The IAB is investigating what role digital learning played in continuing professional development and whether the pandemic exacerbated or mitigated the unequal opportunities for continuing professional development of different groups of employees.
The impact of the pandemic on apprenticeships and on the transition into employment in skilled trades is another area of analysis. And finally, the institutional frameworks that define apprenticeships and continuing professional development are also under examination. Examples include research into companies’ awareness of, and the effects of, the ‘AsA flex’ (assisted training) funding programme, into the minimum wage for apprentices and into the more intensive careers advice at grammar schools.
Activities
- Publications on the topic: Education and the Labour Market
- Projects on the topic: Education and the Labour Market
Departments
- Research Department Active Labour Market Policies and Integration
- Research Group Occupations in the Transformation
- Research Department Establishments and Employment
- Research Department Education, Training, and Employment Over the Life Course
- Regional Research Network
- Junior Research Group Occupations and Employment Trajectories
- Working Group Occupations
- Working Group Further Training
