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Numerous people, including many businesspeople, cross a street in a big city on a sunny day. Panoramic shot with motion blur.

The rise of remote working has been changing where people in Germany work and live. Are people now willing to live further from their place of work? And are they taking up jobs that are much further away?

Illustrative picture for the European Labour Market Barometer

26.08.2026

Facts and figures

European Labour Market Barometer falls below 100 points in August

After four months in positive territory, the barometer has slipped back to just below the neutral 100-point mark.

The close-up of female hands typing on the keyboard of a laptop is dazzled by the dial of a watch and a calendar sheet.

14.08.2026

IAB topic

Working hours

Shorter, longer or more flexible? The planned reform of the Working Hours Act has sparked a lively debate. We have compiled a list of IAB publications and projects that are related to the subject of working hours.

Portrait of a female architect standing on a construction site, smiling confidently. In the background, a group of men are looking at a plan. The focus is on the woman.

5. August 2026

IAB-Forum

Why confidence matters: The hidden barrier for women in STEM

Women remain underrepresented in STEM, which widens the gender pay gap. Confidence is an important factor in choosing a STEM career.

A young, dark-haired man is walking along a train parked on the platform, pulling a rolling suitcase. He is looking down.

02.07.2026

IAB Short Policy Report

International Mobility Panel of Migrants in Germany (IMPa): Who stays, who moves on – and why immigrants leave Germany

Not everyone who immigrates to Germany stays permanently. Thirty-two per cent of those who left Germany cite burdensome bureaucratic processes as a reason for their departure.

Portrait of IAB vice director Melanie Arntz.

02.04.2026

A portrait of the IAB vice director Melanie Arntz

The Art of Balance

When Melanie Arntz talks about leadership, there’s one word that keeps coming up: balance. She believes in seeing people as whole individuals, valuing their ideas while also respecting their limits. She also brings a fresh appetite for knowledge and a powerful sense of energy to the Institute.

News

9. September 2026

How working from home is reshaping Germany’s commuting and residential landscapes

The rise of remote working has been changing where people in Germany work and live. Are people now willing to live further from their place of work?

26. August 2026

European Labour Market Barometer falls below 100 points in August

The European Labour Market Barometer recorded a 0.3-point decline in August, bringing it to 99.9 points.

Shifting opposite silhouettes of different people in business clothes are overshadowed by different digital symbols and strings.

19. August 2026

Project Nonprobability Sample Inference: Fieldwork Report

This IAB Research Report provides a brief overview of the surveys conducted for the project “Nonprobability Sample Inference”.

A construction worker stands on the construction site in the bright sun, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

18. August 2026

“Climate change will demand significant adjustments of the German labour market”

Interview with Prof. Bernd Fitzenberger, Director of the IAB and Florian Hack, researcher at the IAB.

5. August 2026

Why confidence matters: The hidden barrier for women in STEM

Despite strong educational achievements, women in Germany remain underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers – an imbalance that fuels ...

29. July 2026

European Labour Market Barometer holds steady in July

The European Labour Market Barometer remains at 100.1 points in July, just above the neutral 100-point mark.

Eine junge Frau steht in einer nachdenklichen Pose vor einer Tafel auf der eine Vielzahl von Fragezeichen in zu erkennen sind.

21. July 2026

Unintended Transitions: EmploymentOutcomes Following Firm Closures DuringVocational Education and Training

Dual vocational training plays a central role in the transition from school to the labor market in Germany. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of apprenticeship contracts are ...

Eine Sanduhr liegt quer auf fünf Münzstapeln, die in der Höhe ansteigen. Weil der Kegel der Uhr, der auf den niedrigeren Münzstapeln aufliegt weiter unten ist, enthält er mehr Sand.

10. July 2026

Collective Bargaining in Germany: Trends and Challenges

This paper examines the evolution, institutional structure, and current challenges of collective bargaining in Germany. Collective bargaining addresses labor market imperfections, ...

2. July 2026

International Mobility Panel of Migrants in Germany (IMPa): Who stays, who moves on – and why immigrants ...

Thirty-two per cent of those who left Germany cite burdensome bureaucratic processes as a reason for their departure.

Portraits of employees from a wide range of sectors, ethnic backgrounds and generations.

26. June 2026

Employment growth in Germany from 2017 to 2024: What drives employment in an ageing society?

Between 2017 and 2024, employment growth in Germany was mainly driven by a rising population and increasing employment rates.

All News

Working hours

Shorter, longer or more flexible? The planned reform of the Working Hours Act has sparked a lively debate. How have working hours in Germany evolved and how does it compare with other countries? What do employers and employees want? How can a policy on working hours support the creation of new jobs and protect existing employment? What impact will the latest plans have on health and safety regulations and work-life balance? And what role do they play in the job market and in the competitiveness of the economy? Is the four-day working week the model of the future?

We have compiled a list of IAB publications and projects on a separate page that are related to the subject of working hours.