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Linked-Employer-Employee-Data of the IAB (LIAB): LIAB cross-sectional model 1993-2023, version 1

DOI: 10.5164/IAB.LIABQM9323.de.en.v1

Summary

The Linked-Employer-Employee-Data of the IAB (LIAB) combine interviews from the IAB Establishment Panel with the related establishment and individual data generated in labour administration and social security data processing. The latter cover administrative establishment information from the Establishment History Panel (BHP) and the employment biographies of individuals employed by the interviewed establishments. The LIAB data allow for simultaneous analysis of the supply and demand side of the German labour market.

Dataset Descriptions and Frequencies

German

English

Data Access

On-site Use and Remote Execution. Further information on Applying for data access.

With your application to LIAB, we provide i) the survey data of the IAB Establishment Panel, ii) the administrative data of individuals employed by the linked establishments, and iii) the Basis Establishment File of the BHP. Further sensitive variables of additional BHP modules have to be requested explicitly in your application.

Test Data

Test data in Stata are available in order to allow for the preparation of programs to facilitate remote data access as well as on-site use:

Test data for Stata (zip)

Test data are random and therefore not for analysis!

Generation of a panel dataset

The FDZ offers a Stata do-file (zip) for combining all waves from 1993 up to the most recent wave to form a panel data set. The underlying procedure is described in FDZ Methodenreport 12/2017 (pdf). Please cite the Methodenreport when working with the do-file.

Please note: The do-file is already available during on-site visits and therefore should not be transferred via Josua (“Transfer”).

Other Working Tools

  • We provide person and establishment fixed effects (AKM effects) for this data set. To access the effects in an existing project please write us an email. Further information can be found in this FDZ-Methodenreport (pdf).
  • An English outline can be found in Schmollers Jahrbuch, 134 (2014), S. 141–148.
  • The IAB Establishment Panel builds the basis of the LIAB data - see working tools for the IAB Establishment Panel
  • A recommendable Introduction is given by FDZ Methodenreport 01/2008: Das IAB-Betriebspanel – von der Stichprobe über die Erhebung bis zur Hochrechnung (The IAB Establishment Panel - Sample, Survey and Weighting)
    Here you will find a detailed description of the IAB Establishment Panel including information on the establishment number and the linkage quality.

Further working tools as the overview on classifications of economic activities, a list of upper earnings limits and marginal part-time income thresholds and papers on working with the FDZ data can be found at key working tools of the FDZ.

Citation

Researchers working with the LIAB are obligated to acknowledge the data base and its documentation within their publications, including the DOI, by using the following reference:

Data:

Bellmann, Lisa; Gensicke, Miriam; Graf, Tobias; Grießemer, Stephan; Kohaut, Susanne; Köhler, Markus; Lehnert, Claudia; Moczall, Andreas; Möller, Iris; Oertel, Martina; Schmucker, Alexandra; Schneider, Andreas; Schwengler, Barbara; Tschersich, Nikolai; Umkehrer, Matthias; Florian Zimmermann (2025): "Linked-Employer-Employee-Data of the IAB (LIAB), cross-sectional model, version 9323 v1". Research Data Centre of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). DOI: 10.5164/IAB.LIABQM9323.de.en.v1

The data access was provided via on-site use at the Research Data Centre (FDZ) of the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and remote execution.

Data documentation:

  • Ganzer, Andreas; Schmucker, Alexandra; Umkehrer, Matthias; Florian Zimmermann (2025): Linked-Employer-Employee-Daten des IAB: LIAB Querschnittmodell (LIAB QM) 1993-2023. FDZ-Datenreport, 08/2025 (de), Nürnberg. DOI: 10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2508.de.v1
  • Ganzer, Andreas; Schmucker, Alexandra; Umkehrer, Matthias; Florian Zimmermann (2025): Linked-Employer-Employee-Data of the IAB: LIAB Cross-Sectional Model (LIAB QM) 1993-2023. FDZ-Datenreport, 08/2025 (en), Nuremberg. DOI: 10.5164/IAB.FDZD.2508.en.v1

According to the FDZ Data Usage Agreement, any type of publication resulting from work with FDZ data must be reported to the FDZ by email at the latest one month after publication. The notification must include an electronic version of the printed version or, after publication, a reprint or a copy of the publication free of charge.

Data Versions

>> Further information on other versions of the LIAB datasets.