IAB research in this field focuses on the instruments and regulations of labour market policy. The focus is on their implementation, effects, and mechanisms of action. Special attention is paid to the effects on labour-market integration, employability, and social participation. The research programme includes job-counselling, support, and placement processes, as well as labour market policy support instruments such as vocational preparation measures, publicly funded employment, further vocational training, and integration assistance, and wage replacement benefits. The analyses take gender aspects, current social developments, and labour market policy reforms into account. They do not only consider benefit recipients or unemployed and employed persons as individuals but also to some extent take the family context into account.
The IAB also focuses on the actions of central stakeholders and their interactions. This includes Jobcentres, employment agencies, and their specialist staff, benefit recipients, providers of support measures, and employers. The studies are based on quantitative analyses of process- and survey data (non-experimental econometric impact analyses, field experiments) as well as qualitative analyses (non-standardised surveys, participant observations). While quantitative studies primarily determine the impact of various instruments, qualitative studies serve to explore the implementation of labour market policy and its mechanisms of action.
Read moreJanuary 15, 2026 | Labour Market Policy
The introduction of Germany’s minimum wage in 2015 did not cause substantial changes to overall employment; rather, it triggered large shifts in the composition and allocation of types of employment. ...read more
Read moreWhen firms face lower investment costs, it not only encourages them to purchase new machinery and equipment but also helps secure and create jobs. An analysis of the German investment tax credit ...read more
Read moreOctober 28, 2025 | Interviews
Basic income is a simple idea on paper with regular, unconditional cash for everyone, but implementing it is anything but simple. In this interview, Professor David Green discusses findings from a ...read more
Read moreJuly 31, 2025 | Labour Market Policy
In the public debate in Germany, it is often assumed that it is financially more attractive for migrants and refugees to remain on mean-tested benefits for unemployed people than to work. On the ...read more
Read moreMarch 25, 2025 | Labour Market Policy
When Germany introduced its federal statutory minimum wage of 8.50 euro in 2015, it marked a major shift in labour policy. Fast forward to 2025, and the minimum wage is now 12.82 euro. Given annual ...read more
Read moreFebruary 19, 2025 | Interviews
How do different countries integrate immigrants? How does language training link with skills training? Do these distinct policy choices have an impact on labour market outcomes? What about the gender ...read more
Read moreOctober 23, 2024 | Interviews
The Italian government decided on major expenditure saving for the Italian citizens’ income called “Reditto di Cittadinanza” in August 2023. In order to finance promised tax cuts, the payments were ...read more
Read moreThe 8th of March marks the annual International Women’s Day. Wages are an important factor in driving gender parity. In a video interview Professor Alan Manning talks about the gender pay gap between ...read more
Read moreDecember 15, 2023 | International and Regional Labour Markets
Contributing to a better understanding of wage determination and wage distribution as well as job skills – that was the aim of the international conference "Recent Developments in Wage Determination, ...read more