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Skill Shortages in German Establishments

Author

Listed:
  • Bellmann, Lutz

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg)

  • Hübler, Olaf

    (Leibniz University of Hannover)

Abstract

This paper investigates the development of skill shortage during the period 2007-2012. Using the IAB establishment panel, we find differences for the years before, during and after the Great Recession. Furthermore, we analyze the importance of firm characteristics and that of some specific measures with respect to skill shortage based on probit, random effects probit and instrumental variables estimates. The empirical analysis confirms that apprentice and further training serves to reduce the number of unfilled qualified jobs. Plans for the long-run personnel development of the staff are also helpful. Skill shortage within a firm is often only a short-term phenomenon and less often observed over a longer period. During the Great Recession itself, the estimates reveal a weaker relationship between structural characteristics of the firm and skill shortage than in other years. Post-recession effects can be detected. Robustness checks are conducted that account for endogeneity, sample selection, outliers and causality. Least angle regression is applied to select the relevant firm characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Bellmann, Lutz & Hübler, Olaf, 2014. "Skill Shortages in German Establishments," IZA Discussion Papers 8290, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8290
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bellmann Lutz & Gerner Hans-Dieter & Leber Ute, 2014. "Firm-Provided Training During the Great Recession," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 234(1), pages 5-22, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Groiss, Martin & Sondermann, David, 2023. "Help wanted: the drivers and implications of labour shortages," Working Paper Series 2863, European Central Bank.
    2. Bellmann Lutz & Hübler Olaf, 2014. "The Skill Shortage in German Establishments Before, During and After the Great Recession," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 234(6), pages 800-828, December.
    3. Brunello, Giorgio & Wruuck, Patricia, 2019. "Skill Shortages and Skill Mismatch in Europe: A Review of the Literature," IZA Discussion Papers 12346, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Tobias König & Thomas Brenner, 2025. "Skill shortages and industrial clusters–empirical evidence from German establishment data," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 74(4), pages 1-23, December.
    5. Knut Gerlach & Olaf Hübler & Wolfgang Meyer, 2014. "Betriebliche Suche und Besetzung von Arbeitsplätzen für qualifizierte Tätigkeiten in Niedersachsen - Gibt es Defizite an geeigneten Bewerbern?," Working Paper Series in Economics 319, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    6. Meyer, Wolgang, 2015. "Fachkräftemangel in Niedersachsen: Ein aktuelles Problem?," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-560, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    7. Brunello, Giorgio & Wruuck, Patricia & Maurin, Laurent, 2019. "Skill shortages and skill mismatch in Europe: A review of the literature," EIB Working Papers 2019/05, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    8. Sauer, Stefan & Garnitz, Johanna & von Maltzan, Annette, 2022. "Fachkräftemangel aus Unternehmenssicht: Auswirkungen und Lösungsansätze. Jahresmonitor der Stiftung Familienunternehmen," Studien, Stiftung Familienunternehmen / Foundation for Family Businesses, number 265550.
    9. Giorgio Brunello & Patricia Wruuck, 2021. "Skill shortages and skill mismatch: A review of the literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(4), pages 1145-1167, September.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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