Normal working conditions are still the norm

DIW Weekly Report 19 / 2016, S. 419-427

Since the 1980s, the number of people of working age who are not in paid employment has fallen significantly in (West) Germany. Correspondingly, the proportion of those without a job has fallen among 18 to 67 year-olds. This increase in employment was mainly in favour of marginal employment or working as a solo self-employed person rather than in normal employment.

However, the present analysis based on the data of the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) also shows that the share of normal employment relationships in all persons of working age has not decreased. People in atypical employment are exposed to specific risks. Various measures are conceivable to counteract the trend towards these employment relationships. These include an expansion of childcare, the abolition of special rules for mini-jobs as well as compulsory insurance for old age and accident for self-employed persons who have not been covered so far.

PDF Download of this publication