Has atypical work become typical in Germany?: country case study on labour market segmentation

The current paper is one in a series of country studies. It makes a contribution to the discussion on contractual segmentation of labour markets, providing an overview of the institutional setup as well as empirical evidence on the extent of segmentation and its implications for various aspects of job quality. The paper also offers a policy perspective on the ways to alleviate the negative consequences of segmentation.

Specifically, the authors provide an overview of the transformation of the German labour market since the mid-1990s with a special focus on the changing patterns of labour market segmentation or ‘dualization’ of employment in Germany. While labour market duality in Germany can partially be attributed to labour market reforms promoting in particular non-standard forms of employment and allowing for an expansion of low pay, structural changes in the economy as well as strategic choices by employers and social partners also play a prominent role.

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