September 2013

IZA DP No. 7609: Has Atypical Work Become Typical in Germany?

also available as: ILO Employment Working Paper 145 and DIW SOEP Paper 596

This paper gives an overview of the transformation of the German labor market since the mid-1990s with a special focus on the changing patterns of labor market segmentation or 'dualization' of employment in Germany. While labor market duality in Germany can partially be attributed to labor market reforms promoting in particular non-standard forms of employment and allowing for an expansion of low pay, structural changes in the economy as well as strategic choices by employers and social partners also play a prominent role.