Research Areas

The interdisciplinary research at the Labor and Socio-Economic Research Center (LASER) is organized into four research areas. The heads of the respective areas are also members of the steering committee.

External Labour Markets

Aggregate labor markets reflect the interplay of workers and employers who agree on the provision of paid work. Both sides are affected by numerous developments which appear as general trends and yet affect outcomes at the individual level. Currently, members of LASER conduct research in the following areas:

• labor demand and labor supply
• migration and mobility
• unemployment
• change of the world of work
• regional labor markets

The current speaker of this area is Regina T. Riphahn.

Internal Labour Markets

Most employees experience some career in their life, i.e. they learn, they are promoted, change jobs, etc. Within this career they also regularly compete with other employees. Currently, members of the Labor and Socio-Economic Research Center (LASER) are conducting research in the following areas:

• Human Resource Management
• pay and incentive systems
• training and development
• organization of work schedules

The current speaker of this area is Klaus Moser.

Institutions, Agents, and Policy

The institutional framework, which is made up of organizations, agents, and policy decisions, has a far reaching influence on labor markets and the future of work. LASER research in this area focuses on the following issues:

• labor market policy
• organizations and agents in the labor market
• industrial relations
• social policy
• educational policy
• labor law

The current speaker of this area is Claus Schnabel.

Life Course and Occupational Careers

Our fourth research area is the work-life interplay. Currently, members of the Labor and Socio-Economic Research Center (LASER) are conducting research in the following areas:

• Career development
• Career success
• Work-life balance
• Diversity (gender, immigrants, etc.)
• Educational systems
• Work and health

The current speaker of this area is Cornelia Niessen.