Soziale Ungleichheit und Einkommenseinbußen in der Corona-Krise – Befunde einer Erwerbstätigenbefragung

The article analyses the prevalence of income cuts during the Covid-19 pandemic and their impact on already existing social inequality in Germany using representative data from two waves (N = 6309) of the “labor force survey“. Analyses reveal that almost one third of Germany´s working population have had to suffer reductions in income, with all the associated fears and worries. By applying a set of logistic regressions, the authors show that certain groups are noticeably more often affected: respondents with an immigrant background, those with children, men, and also respondents with already lower incomes. Freelancers and self-employed persons were particularly often affected – especially at the beginning of the pandemic, while civil servants report almost no cuts in income. Respondents working in co-determined companies also show lower financial losses. Finally, the analyses reveal the occurrence of income cuts in specific sectors such as the hospitality industry and the manufacturing industry. Analysed according to region, the cuts can be identified as being most prevalent in Baden-Württemberg – particularly at the beginning of the pandemic ; while in Brandenburg cuts have been much less common throughout the course of the ­pandemic.