The IW's science area is divided into thematic clusters and empirical clusters. These reflect the main areas of research.
Research focus

The State, Taxes, Social Security
The demographic transition, digitalisation and decarbonisation all pose major challenges for the state's welfare, spending and fiscal policies. In this Research Unit, our researchers use theoretical…
![[Translate to Englisch:] iStock Education, Immigration and Innovation](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/b/csm_Ganztagsgrundschule-iStock-1161168861_3598f31787.jpg)
Education, Immigration and Innovation
The IW's Education, Immigration and Innovation competence area is researching how education and immigration contribute to securing skilled labor.

Digitalisation and Climate Action
With the German economy undergoing a comprehensive transformation process, the Digitalisation and Climate Action Research Unit examines how companies operate in a market environment that is evolving…
![[Translate to Englisch:] Getty Images Vocational Education and Professionals](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/8/csm_Abiturienten-GettyImages-1127728348-creative_52d378c5b3.jpg)
Vocational Education and Professionals
The researchers in the Research Unit Vocational Qualification and Skilled Workers analyse what contribution vocational education and training makes to the economy and society, and to what extent it…
![[Translate to Englisch:] iStock Labour Economics and Collective Bargaining Policy](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/c/csm_Arbeiter_Fabrik_iStock-537388330_47601aa9cb.jpg)
Labour Economics and Collective Bargaining Policy
With the working world constantly changing, those active in the labour market face ever new challenges that can only be successfully overcome by concerted action. How companies and their workforces…
![[Translate to Englisch:] Unsplash International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/1/csm_Internationale-Wirtschaftsordnung-und-Konjunktur-chuttersnap-Unsplash-255216_236cfc2bea.jpg)
International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets
The researchers in the department International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets deal with current issues of international economic and monetary policy, examine the economic…
![[Translate to Englisch:] Getty Images Professional participation and inclusion](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/6/csm_Rehadat-GettyImages-1127320774-creative_7d2f9d1fb1.jpg)
Professional participation and inclusion
The CC has a high level of expertise in the field of participation in working life, analyses key issues in the context and provides them for different target groups in a practical way.

IW-Befragungen
Companies and their employees are facing a variety of challenges: New opportunities due to technological progress, global economic relations and global competition, demographic change and the skilled…
![[Translate to Englisch:] iStock Big Data Analytics](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/2/csm_Big-Data-Analytics-FroYo_92-iStock-688140822_aec1275474.jpg)
Big Data Analytics
The Big Data Analytics Research Unit looks at the opportunities offered by analyses of Big Data . Read more about the focus of this research group.