Research Data Centre (FDZ) of the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB)

FDZ–IAB makes datasets available following the clarification of data protection issues. In addition to providing documention of data (FDZ Datenreport) and of methodological aspects (FDZ Methodenreport), FDZ–IAB supports its users on issues such as data selection, data access, data handling, analytical potential, scope, and validity of the data. It also organises workshops, international conferences and regular meetings for data users.

FDZ–IAB provides three modes of data access. De-facto anonymised datasets are made available to research institutions as scientific use files. More restrictive data can be accessed either on-site during a research visit at the research data centre, at one of the IAB’s regional branches or via remote execution. In either case, a request form for data access must be filled out in advance. For more information about modes of access, application procedures and guidelines, visit the FDZ-IAB website: https://fdz.iab.de/en/data-access.
We also provide select datasets for university teaching: https://fdz.iab.de/en/our-data-products/data-for-the-purpose-of-academic-teaching

FDZ–IAB conducts empirical research on general research questions, in particular, issues of data quality and anonymisation. The research results are published in relevant journals. Our research projects are supported by external funding (third-party funding) and ideally result in the creation of new datasets.  A list of all current and completed projects can be viewed on our website: https://fdz.iab.de/en/research/projects-of-the-fdz

Our range of data includes person-related, household and firm data from diverse sources.

• Administrative data: e.g. Sample of Integrated Labour Market Biographies
• Survey data: e.g. “Labor Market and Social Security” or the IAB Establishment Panel
• Linked survey and administrative data: e.g. “Linked-Employer-Employee-Data of the IAB”,  Labor Market and Social Security” linked to administrative data of the IAB
• Establishment History Panel
• Data from non-recurrent studies: e.g. “Leben in der Arbeit” – German cohort study on work, age and health or “Job quality and economic success”

More detailed information on FDZ–IAB datasets can be found in both German and English on the FDZ website: http://fdz.iab.de/en/. To stay up-to-date about the latest data and developments, please subscribe to the FDZ’s newsletter.