In 2021 around 13 per cent of the working-age population, or 19 per cent of those in dependent employment, were receiving a low wage, showing that this pay segment is continuing to decline.

Holger Schäfer IW

The creator economy is a rapidly growing industry that, according to forecasts, will continue to gain influence and increase sales in the coming years. With advertising deals and collaborations, influencers in particular not only generate high sales, but also have power over opinions and influence the consumer behavior of their followers.

Chiara Nußbaum / Jennifer Potthoff IW

As a result of demographic trends, around a quarter of all employees in the mechanical engineering sector are expected to retire in the next ten years. This corresponds to more than 296,000 people.

Andrea Hammermann / Jochen Pimpertz / Oliver Stettes IW

In 2024, the German economy has stagnated, performing at a level that has barely changed since 2019. Its foreign trade is suffering from geopolitical conflicts and the resulting slowdown in the global economy.

Michael Grömling IW

The stagnation of the German economy is entering its sixth year. The economic weakness threatens to turn into a structural crisis. Structural reforms on the supply side must be on the agenda in order to provide the necessary economic policy impetus for more growth.

Hubertus Bardt in Special Edition on Industrial Innovations IW

In a country comparison of international patent applications from the higher education sector, Switzerland excels in efficiency. The USA dominate in terms of the number of patent applications and in the ranking of the 1,767 patent-active universities across the globe. Germany performs well across all categories, placing just behind the USA in efficiency.

Maike Haag / Enno Kohlisch / Oliver Koppel IW

Electronic devices are essential in daily life, but their widespread use has led to environmental challenges. Circular business models—such as second-hand sales and rental services —are key to mitigating these effects by extending the useful life of a product or intensifying the usage.

Adriana Neligan / Lennart Bolwin / Circularity* / Deloitte* / Fraunhofer IZM* / Systemiq* IW

The larger German Mittelstand, i. e. companies above small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with more than 250 employees and less than 3,000 employees, plays a prominent role in the German economic structure.

Klaus-Heiner Röhl IW

For a long time, the defense industry was not the focus of economic policy debate. The export of weapons and dual-use goods is handled restrictively in Germany. Compared to other countries, spending on equipment for the Bundeswehr was low, which put the industry under pressure.

Hubertus Bardt IW

Companies are increasingly focussing their attention on the recruitment of skilled workers and thus facing the growing challenge of making their job advertisements as attractive as possible.

Helena Bach / Carolin Denise Fulda IW