ALWA - New life course data for Germany

Abstract

Over the course of 2007 and 2008, the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) started up the study 'Arbeiten und Lernen im Wandel' (Changes in work and learning). The aim of this study was to find out in what way the lives of adults have changed over the last years. For instance, some of the points examined were whether young people have more difficulty finding work today; whether occupational training and further training are more important than earlier; whether it is easier to combine family commitments with one's work; what role friends or work colleagues play in freetime and during one's job; and, in what way (further) training helps one avoid or overcome unemployment. Information was collected on the careers of adults in various walks of life such as school, training, occupation and the family. These life-course data have been available via the Research Data Centre (FDZ) of the Federal Employment Agency (BA) since 2010. The article also describes how the study was carried out, the way samples were designed and what the questionnaires were like. In addition, the structure of the data in the scientific use file is outlined. Finally there is a preview of the subsequent study: the National Education Panel. (IAB)

Cite article

Kleinert, C., Matthes, B., Antoni, M., Drasch, K., Ruland, M. & Trahms, A. (2011): ALWA - New life course data for Germany. In: Schmollers Jahrbuch, Vol. 131, No. 4, p. 625-634. DOI:10.3790/schm.131.4.625