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"

This article focusses on how working from home has changed during the Covid-19 crisis. ...read more

The article discusses how the German social protection system should be adapted following the Covid-19 crisis. ...read more

28. May 2021 |

Social protection of atypical workers during the Covid-19 crisis

Kerstin Bruckmeier , Diego d´Andria , Regina Konle-Seidl

The article analyses the social protection of the atypically employed and the (solo) self-employed during the Covid-19 crisis. ...read more

16. April 2021 |

European labour market dynamics after the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis

Enzo Weber , Roman Neupert

In order to analyse the mechanisms behind the dropping employment figures, this article gives an outline of developments in labour market flow statistics in Europe after the outbreak of the Covid-19 ...read more

A new high-frequency survey sheds light on how establishments have adapted to the Covid-19 ...read more

21. December 2020 |

The post-pandemic labour market. Video interviews with IAB Director Bernd Fitzenberger

Jutta Winters

IAB-Director risks a glance at the labour market after the Covid-19 crisis in a series of video interviews. ...read more

16. December 2020 |

Short-time work, layoffs, and new hires in Germany: how the corona crisis differs from the financial crisis of 2009

, Enzo Weber

The corona crisis has impacted the German economy and labour market much more heavily than the financial crisis of 2009. Nevertheless, the number of layoffs has so far been limited compared to the ...read more

The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic affect gainfully employed students in their academic progress due to the cancellation of on-site classes and in terms financial distress due to lost student ...read more

2. October 2020 |

Germany’s trade with China at the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic

Ignat Stepanok

Studying trade flows between China and Germany in February 2020 gives a clear picture of what happens when a major shock affects a single trading partner. ...read more