The (East-)German labour market in a comparative perspective - with special reference to the employment of older persons

Abstract

"This paper analyses the East German labour market in a comparative perspective. lt puts special emphasis on the employment of older workers, since this issue gains in importance - for East (and West) Germany as well as for the new member states - given the common demographic challenge of declining birth rates and a rising life expectancy. One striking difference must be taken into account. The new member countries are independent states, whereas the former German Democratic Republic is now part of the unified Germany. Strong social, economic and political links have developed between both parts of Germany. An analysis of East Germany must take into account as well as allow for the situation in Germany. Considering this particular situation, we compare the employment situation and strategies for older workers in East Germany and the New Member States from the perspective of the European Employment Strategy. Our aim is to understand in detail why some post-socialist countries are more successful than others. Our paper starts with an overview of the recent employment trends and policies in Germany, then focuses on the East German labour market situation, before turning to the issue of older workers. The subsequent chapters give a short survey of labour market trends in the new member countries, including age-related employment problems, and put the East German situation into a comparative perspective. We find that there are considerable differences not only between East Germany and the CEE countries, but also growing heterogeneity within CEE countries - partly explained by different reform paths, partly due to differences in the past and present gender gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Kraatz, S. & Rhein, T. (2005): The (East-)German labour market in a comparative perspective - with special reference to the employment of older persons. In: KOPINT-DATORG Foundation for Economic Research, Budapest (Hrsg.) (2005): European Employment Strategy : ways of adaptability in the new member states. The case of Hungary, p. 115-127.