Paula Risius

Senior Economist for qualification and securing skilled workers

Tel: +49 221 4981-680 Mail: risius@iwkoeln.de

At the IW since 2019
Studies of Sociology and Empirical Social Research at the University of Cologne
Supervision of empirical research in the project NETZWERK Q 4.0
Research interests: Education and training in the digital transformation; career orientation and transitions to work; shortage of skilled workers.

Topics

Education and Training

Thematic clusters

Vocational Education and Professionals

IW Publications

Risius, Paula / Werner, Dirk / Herzer, Philip / Orange, Fritz / Flake, Regina / Arndt, Franziska / Schmitz, Edgar, 2026, Ausbildung erfolgreich gestalten vom Marketing bis zur Übernahme, IW-Report, Nr. 38, Köln
Zur Studie

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

Risius, Paula / Quispe, Valeria / Malin, Lydia / Arndt, Franziska / Mertens, Armin / Engler, Jan Felix, 2025, Der Einfluss von beruflicher Ähnlichkeit und Arbeitsmarktbedingungen auf Berufswechsel, IW-Report, Nr. 40, 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

Risius, Paula / Seyda, Susanne, 2023, Digitale Ausbildung. Eine Frage von Technik, Ressourcen oder Motivation?, in: IW-Trends, 50. Jg., Nr. 1, S. 81-99
Zur Studie

Flake, Regina / Koneberg, Filiz / Risius, Paula, 2022, Lernrückstände durch Corona in der dualen Ausbildung. Die Bedeutung von Distanzlernen und Unterstützungsmaßnahmen der Ausbilderinnen und Ausbilder, IW-Report, Nr. 52, Köln
Zur Studie

Werner, Dirk / Risius, Paula / Jansen, Anika, 2021, Neue Wege oder Irrwege für den Ausbildungsmarkt? Wie die Parteien Ausbildungsangebot und -nachfrage erhöhen wollen: Eine kritische Bewertung der Parteiprogramme durch das IW, IW-Policy Paper, Nr. 21, Köln
Zur Studie

More from Paula Risius

IW-Report No. 38 11. September 2026 Paula Risius et al.

Making Apprenticeships a Success: From Marketing to Hiring

In-company vocational training is a key factor in securing skilled labour. The first step in investing in future employees is to approach and recruit new apprentices. For many companies, filling the apprenticeship positions they offer is a challenge.

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).

IW-Report No. 40 12. September 2025 Paula Risius et al.

The influence of occupational similarity and labor market conditions on occupational change

Germany urgently needs skilled workers in various professions for the energy transition: in the 31 energy-related professions considered in this study, almost 119,000 of the total 185,000 vacancies could not be filled in 2024.

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.

IW-Trends No. 1 23. May 2023 Paula Risius / Susanne Seyda

Digital Training: A question of Technology, Resources or Motivation?

The degree to which companies in Germany have digitalised their vocational training, if at all, is influenced by a variety of factors.

IW-Report No. 52 13. October 2022 Regina Flake / Filiz Koneberg / Paula Risius

Learning deficits due to Corona in dual training

The contact reduction measures during the Corona pandemic had a strong impact on everyday life in the German dual system of vocational training. Regarding the work-based training within the companies, the question arises as to which extent distance learning and remote working could be organized at short notice for the apprentices.

IW-Policy Paper No. 21 23. September 2021 Dirk Werner / Paula Risius / Anika Jansen

New paths or wrong paths for the training market?

Some of the demands made by the political parties in their election programs for the federal elections are specifically aimed at increasing the demand for and supply of vocational education and training. In this analysis, the measures are evaluated economically based on empirical data and previous research findings.

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.