Series “Covid-19 crisis: consequences for the labour market”
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March 2020: The coronavirus pandemic is shaking the global economy. Cross-country supply chains are breaking down within a matter of time, the worldwide demand for goods and services is plummeting, stock markets are crashing. In Europe, one country after the other is closing its borders.
The consequences cut to the quick not least the German export industry – including the domestic automotive industry which is shutting down production completely. But unlike in the financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009, this crisis also hits the domestic service sector with full force: As a consequence of the politically decreed shut down, many shops must close, unless they provide basic consumer goods and services. Many are threatened by insolvency. Germany and the global economy are plunging into a deep recession. It is, however, still not clear how severe this recession will be and how long it will last.
Politics, on the other hand, is trying to put up some resistance. The German government is launching giant aid packages. For instance, it is granting massive financial support to threatened companies and is paying short-time allowance of an unprecedented scale. At the same time, however, the consequences for the labour market are obvious – an immense challenge also for the IAB, which is currently confronted with many questions that are essential for the future: How robust will the labour market prove to be? Are we threatened with mass redundancies? Which sectors are particularly affected? How effective are the political measures? What lessons can be learned from the coronavirus crisis for economy and labour market? With this series, the IAB will try to provide some answers.
All articles in: Series "Covid-19 crisis: consequences for the labour market"
During the Covid-19-crisis Australia quickly introduced the “JobKeeper scheme” – a large scale and easy to implement wage subsidy program to keep firms and employees together. However, ...read more
14. August 2023 | Structural Change and the Labour Market
The IAB-LinkedIn Reallocation Radar: “Great Resignation” is not a trend
The Great Resignation debate suggests that during the coronavirus crisis, workers would have increasingly switched the industry in which they were previously employed. This is not the case for ...read more
Alexander Hijzen, a senior economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), gives an overview of the country-specific application of short-time work during the Covid-19 ...read more
27. June 2023 | International perspectives on applying short-time work during the Covid-19 crisis
“Short-Time Compensation is underutilized in the United States”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, governments around the world responded with a variety of labor market policy tools to prevent job losses. The United States focused primarily on two such programs: ...read more
28. September 2022 | Interviews
What will the labour market of the future look like?
Interview with IAB director Bernd Fitzenberger on the effects of the current crises on the labour market of the future. ...read more
15. September 2022 | Series "Tracking youth joblessness during the Covid-19 crisis"
Unemployment and the mental health of young people during the second phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany
Young adults are tomorrow’s workforce in times of aggravating skill shortage. Their mental health and well-being decide over their labour market success and influence the future development of the ...read more
9. August 2022 | Series "Covid-19 crisis: consequences for the labour market"
Essential occupations: what are the working conditions like?
Most jobs in essential occupations in Germany have relatively good working conditions. Yet a substantial share of jobs has bad ones, and here migrants are ...read more
6. April 2022 | Series "Covid-19 crisis: consequences for the labour market"
With its numerous surveys the IAB will shed light on the coronavirus mystery
The Covid-19 crisis has led to a dramatic increase in the demand for information both in politics and practice. This poses an enormous challenge to the research and counselling activities at the IAB. ...read more
8. March 2022 | Interviews
Work and family in times of lockdown: a step backwards for women?
In spring 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic paralysed public life in many countries. Schools and daycare facilities closed. Many men and women started working from home or switched to short-time work. The ...read more