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Alexander Burstedde

Alexander Burstedde

Senior Economist for qualification and securing skilled workers

Tel: +49 221 4981-217 Alexander Burstedde @ABurstedde
  • Research focus on shortage of skilled workers and demography
  • Responsible for data infrastructure in the research unit Vocational Qualification and Skilled Workers
  • Studies of economics at the University of Cologne (M.Sc.)
  • Apprenticeship as IT specialist for application development (IHK)

IW Publications

Burstedde, Alexander / Risius, Paula / Bardt, Hubertus, 2025, Wehrpflichtsdebatte: Attraktivität der Bundeswehr entscheidend, IW-Report, Nr. 57, Köln
Zur Studie

Burstedde, Alexander / Puls, Thomas / Tiedemann, Jurek, 2025, Risiken für die Umsetzung des Sondervermögens Infrastruktur und Klimaneutralität. Kapazitätsengpässe dürften zu Verzögerungen und Preissteigerungen führen, IW-Report, Nr. 42, Köln
Zur Studie

Burstedde, Alexander / Tiedemann, Jurek, 2024, IW-Arbeitsmarktfortschreibung 2027. Aktualisierung mit Daten bis 2022 – Zuwanderung kann Alterung ausgleichen, IW-Report, Nr. 33, Köln
Zur Studie

Burstedde, Alexander / Risius, Paula / Tiedemann, Jurek / Werner, Dirk, 2023, Weiterbildungsbedarfe der Automobilbranche in der Transformation. Befragungsergebnisse aus dem IW-Zukunftspanel, Gutachten im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK) für den Expertenkreis Transformation der Automobilwirtschaft (ETA), IW-Report, Nr. 56, Köln
Zur Studie

Hammermann, Andrea / Lehr, Judith / Burstedde, Alexander, 2022, HR Analytics. Anwendungsfelder und Erfolgsfaktoren, Studie in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Expertenkreis: Markus Dohm (TÜV Rheinland), Jörg Friedrich (VDMA), Hans-Peter Klös (IW), Christian Lorenz (DGFP), Hans Jürgen Metternich (Evonik), Andreas Ogrinz (BAVC), Christian Vetter (HRForecast), IW-Report, Nr. 28, Köln
Zur Studie

Burstedde, Alexander / Hickmann, Helen / Werner, Dirk, 2021, Ohne Zuwanderung sinkt das Arbeitskräftepotenzial schon heute. Mehr Renteneintritte als Nachwuchs-Arbeitskräfte überall, IW-Report, Nr. 25, Köln
Zur Studie

(in cooperation with Dirk Werner)
Von Abwanderung betroffene Arbeitsmärkte stärken
IW-Report 26/2019

(in cooperation with Galina Kolev, Jürgen Matthes)
Wachstumsbremse Fachkräfteengpässe
IW-Kurzbericht 27/2018

(in cooperation with Dirk Werner)
Unternehmen müssen mehr Zeit für Personalsuche einplanen
IW-Kurzbericht 17/2018

Expertises

(in cooperation with Annina Hering, Anika Jansen, Sarah Pierenkemper, Sibylle Stippler)
Wie Unternehmen trotz Fachkräftemangel Mitarbeiter finden
Studie des Kompetenzzentrums Fachkräftesicherung (KOFA) in Zusammenarbeit mit der Jobseite Indeed und der Zeitschrift Personalwirtschaft, 2019

(in cooperation with Paula Risius, Regina Flake)
Fachkräfteengpässe in Unternehmen - Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen finden immer schwerer Fachkräfte und Auszubildende
KOFA-Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie, 2018
https://www.iwkoeln.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Studien/Gutachten/PDF/2018/IW-Gutachten_KOFA_KMUs_finden_immer_schwerer_Fachkraefte_und_Azubis.pdf

(in cooperation with Barbara Engels, Wido Geis, Hanno Kempermann, Matthias Niendorf, Thomas Puls, Klaus-Heiner Röhl, Christopher Thiele)
Die Zukunft des Ruhrgebiets – Wirtschaftliche Lage und Potenziale des größten deutschen Ballungsraumes
Gutachten für die Landesvereinigung der Unternehmensverbände NRW (unternehmer nrw), 2018

(in cooperation with Regina Flake, Paula Risius)
Fachkräfteengpässe in Unternehmen – Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen finden immer schwerer Fachkräfte und Auszubildende
Studie für das Kompetenzzentrum Fachkräftesicherung (KOFA), 2018

(in cooperation with Regina Flake, Lydia Malin, Paula Risius, Dirk Werner)
Fachkräfte für die digitale Transformation – Arbeitsmarktsituation und Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten
Gutachten für die Stiftung Familienunternehmen

(in cooperation with Lydia Malin, Paula Risius)
Rezepte gegen den Fachkräftemangel
Studie für das Kompetenzzentrum Fachkräftesicherung (KOFA), 2017

(in cooperation with Paula Risius)
Fachkräfteengpässe in Unternehmen – Regionale Fachkräftesituation und Mobilität
Studie für das Kompetenzzentrum Fachkräftesicherung (KOFA) , 2017

External Publications

(gemeinsam mit Stefan Heidbreder)
Digitale Transformation: Gebremst durch Fachkräftemangel! Stand, Erfahrungen und Empfehlungen - eine Praxis-Studie
Josef Siegers, Jobst R. Hagedorn (Hrsg.): Handbuch der Aus- und Weiterbildung, 305. Ergänzungs-Lieferung, Nr. 3420, Köln, 2018, S. 1–16

More from Alexander Burstedde

Read study
Für den personellen Aufwuchs ist vor allem der Verbleib zentral.
IW-Report No. 57 14. November 2025 Alexander Burstedde / Paula Risius / Hubertus Bardt

Debate on compulsory military service: Attractiveness of the German Armed Forces is crucial

Germany is facing an increased threat level. As a result of Russia's war against Ukraine, a “turning point” (dt.: Zeitenwende) has already been declared. The increase in defense capabilities also includes a significant increase in personnel in the German Armed Forces (dt.: Bundeswehr).

Alexander Burstedde / Paula Risius / Hubertus Bardt IW

Read study
Risks for the implementation of the special infrastructure and climate neutrality fund
IW-Report No. 42 24. September 2025 Alexander Burstedde / Thomas Puls / Jurek Tiedemann

Risks for the implementation of the special infrastructure and climate neutrality fund

The Off-budget fund for infrastructure and climate neutrality (German abbreviation: SVIK) is intended to eliminate the government's investment backlog in Germany. To ensure the success of this gigantic project, this study identifies key stumbling blocks and provides specific recommendations for action.

Alexander Burstedde / Thomas Puls / Jurek Tiedemann IW

Read study
Immigration can compensate for ageing
IW-Report No. 33 9. August 2024 Alexander Burstedde / Jurek Tiedemann

IW labor market forecast 2027: Immigration can compensate for ageing

This study is the annual update of the IW labor market extrapolation with data up to 2022. The methodology is described in detail by Burstedde (2023). The update shows how employment and skilled labor shortages could develop during the next five years if the empirical trends of the last seven years were to continue. This is different from a forecast.

Alexander Burstedde / Jurek Tiedemann IW

Read study
Further training needs of the automotive industry in transformation
IW-Report No. 56 2. November 2023 Alexander Burstedde et al.

Further training needs of the automotive industry in transformation

Due to the ecological and digital transformation, significant parts of the German economy, particularly the industrial sector, are currently undergoing a transformation. This development also extends to the automotive sector, which occupies a vital position in the German economy.

Alexander Burstedde / Paula Risius / Jurek Tiedemann / Dirk Werner IW

Read study
Fields of application and success factors
IW-Report No. 28 23. May 2022 Andrea Hammermann / Judith Lehr / Alexander Burstedde

HR Analytics: Fields of application and success factors

In this study, the term HR analytics is used to describe data-based decision-making in HR, whereby the transitions from classic HR controlling to HR analytics, in which various data sources are combined to identify interdependencies and make predictions, are fluid. The study provides an overview of the potential of HR analytics and the success factors for its introduction and use.

Andrea Hammermann / Judith Lehr / Alexander Burstedde IW

Read study
Without immigration, the potential workforce is already shrinking
IW-Report No. 25 24. July 2021 Alexander Burstedde et al.

Without immigration, the potential workforce is already shrinking

Demographic change has been foreseeable for a long time, but has not always led to forward-looking policies. This study shows that demographic change is accelerating significantly and thus requires decisive and timely action.

Alexander Burstedde / Helen Hickmann / Sebastian Schirner / Dirk Werner IW

Read study
Are Wages in Germany Responsive to Skilled Labor Shortages?
IW-Trends No. 4 6. January 2021 Alexander Burstedde / Ruth Maria Schüler

Are Wages in Germany Responsive to Skilled Labor Shortages?

The demographic transition is confronting Germany with a growing shortage of skilled workers. In a simple, static labor market model, wages in occupations where the demand for labor is high should rise at an above-average rate to restore market equilibrium.

Alexander Burstedde / Ruth Maria Schüler IW

Read study
Measuring the Shortage of Skilled Workers
IW-Report No. 59 21. November 2020 Alexander Burstedde et al.

Measuring the shortage of skilled workers

The present IW-Report introduces a new methodology for measuring the shortage of skilled workers and thus makes a central contribution to mapping the skilled worker situation in Germany. First, a definition of the term "shortage of skilled workers" is presented. Afterwards, its operationalization is discussed.

Alexander Burstedde / Regina Flake / Anika Jansen / Lydia Malin / Paula Risius / Susanne Seyda / Sebastian Schirner / Dirk Werner IW

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