ifo Media Center
The ifo Institute invites you to participate in the discussion of interesting economic topics via the Internet. In our ifo Media Center a whole series of remarkable events are available and can be viewed in full length. We also record selected speeches and presentations given by employees or at events and make them available in our Media Center.
Equal Opportunities in the Labor Market as Part of the HR Strategy to Combat Labor and Skills Shortages (1st Quarter 2024)
In the first quarter of 2024, the Randstad-ifo HR manager survey focused on equal opportunities in the labor market, especially in light of the shortage of workers and applicants. The tools most frequently used by companies for equal opportunities are the flexibilization of working hours and of hours worked. In addition, three-quarters of the companies surveyed have changed the structure of their job advertisements and application processes in the last five years – one reason being to receive more applications.
Skills Shortage Has a Major Impact on Companies’ HR Strategies (4th Quarter 2023)
What does HR planning look like in companies? This question was the focus of the Randstad-ifo Personnel Manager Survey in the fourth quarter of 2023. The answer is difficult: in addition to the current gloomy economic outlook, a number of other economic and political issues are currently posing a considerable challenge for companies, not least the shortage of applicants and skilled workers, which companies are increasingly feeling and which is having the greatest impact on HR strategy.
ChatGPT, Chatbots, and More – How Is Artificial Intelligence Being Used in Corporate HR Departments? (3rd Quarter 2023)
In the third quarter of 2023, the Randstad ifo Personnel Manager Survey focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at German companies and in their HR departments in particular. Currently, about 5% of the companies surveyed are using AI in HR, with another 25% planning to do so.
Personnel Policy Implications Due to Demographic Change (2nd Quarter 2023)
In the second quarter of 2023, the Randstad ifo Personnel Manager survey explored demographic change and its impact on HR policy, as well as the role of older employees now and in the near future.
From Vacation Pay to Sabbaticals – What Is Common Practice in German Companies? (1st Quarter 2023)
In the first quarter of 2023, the Randstad ifo Personnel Manager Survey focused on the vacation culture in German companies. On average, these grant 29 days of recreational leave.
Personnel and Salary Developments in 2023 and Feedback Culture in Companies (4th Quarter 2022)
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Randstad ifo Personnel Manager Survey covered wage developments in 2023 and special payments in the form of the inflation compensation bonus. This bonus is part of the German government’s third relief package, which is intended to offer citizens relief in times of high energy prices and inflation rates. The bonus is tax-free up to an amount of EUR 3,000 until the end of 2024. Other topics included personnel development in 2023 and the feedback culture in companies.
Human Resources (HR) between Energy and Coronavirus Crises: The Measures that Companies Are Taking (Q3 2022)
In the third quarter, the Randstad-ifo Personnel Manager survey looked at HR policy measures for the energy and coronavirus crises. As winter approaches, companies are increasingly having to think about how they will deal with the threat of an energy shortage. To what extent have companies already prepared for this with an emergency plan, and what specific measures do those plans foresee? Does the presence of an emergency plan restrict business activities, and if so to what extent? And who is primarily responsible for the development of an emergency plan? In addition to all these challenges, the coronavirus also continues to play havoc. The special questions also provide insights on (renewed) Covid-19 protective measures.
HR Policy Challenges in the Crisis Year 2022 – What Measures are German HR Departments Taking? (Q2 2022)
In the second quarter, the Randstad-ifo Personnel Manager Survey looked at the impact of current events surrounding the war in Ukraine on HR policy and how companies are dealing with this situation. What measures are companies taking to counteract rising (energy) costs as well as inflation and thus create relief for the company itself, but also and above all for employees? Another focus was on wage-specific aspects: Have wages already been increased, and what about bonus payments? A further point is the integration of refugees from Ukraine into the labor market.
Traditional Recruiting vs. Active Sourcing: External Job Posting Still Dominates (Q1 2022)
The special questions for the first quarter of 2022 revolved around companies’ recruiting process: Which recruiting tools do companies use when looking for new employees and how much importance do companies attach to active search and to directly approaching potential candidates? In addition, the questions throw light on the role these tools play in the search for new trainees and on the extent to which companies apply a diversity strategy when filling new positions.
Outlook for 2022 – Personnel and Salary Development (4th Quarter 2021)
The special questions in the fourth quarter of 2021 revolved around personnel and wage trends in 2022, suitable measures to combat the shortage of skilled workers, and the most important task for the new German government from the perspective of the companies surveyed.
Training during the Covid-19 Pandemic − Obstacles for Businesses and Apprentices (3rd Quarter 2021)
Widely admired around the globe, the dual education system in Germany provides a key to the world of work. However, the coronavirus crisis greatly hampered school-based and on-the-job learning. Working from home and home schooling became the norm. How companies and apprentices dealt with this situation is illuminated by the special questions for the third quarter.
Diversity in German Corporate Culture (2nd Quarter 2021)
Diversity – this buzzword is causing quite a stir in all areas of life, from politics to commercial breaks or on the upper arm of the German soccer team’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, during the European Championship. Due to its importance, this topic was the focus of the special questions in the Randstad-ifo Personnel Manager Survey in the second quarter of 2021.
Changes in Staffing Levels (1st Quarter 2021)
The special questions in the survey in the first quarter referred to personnel planning (increases and decreases in headcount) and the corresponding instruments. Furthermore, the participating companies indicated whether the Covid-19 pandemic led to any changes in their fixed-term employment policy when hiring new staff.
Coronavirus: Companies Support Families (4th Quarter 2020)
The special questions in the fourth quarter of 2020 explored the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the labor situation. The particular focus was on the development of pay and components thereof. Moreover, the participating companies indicated whether, and how, they supported families with children in ensuring the provision of childcare.
Coronavirus and the Training Situation (3rd Quarter 2020)
The special questions of the survey in the third quarter of 2020 focused on in-house vocational training. Among other things, they addressed the situation during the coronavirus pandemic, but they also looked ahead to the 2020/2021 training year.
Working from Home and Digitalization in Light of the Coronavirus (2nd Quarter 2020)
Covid-19 has the world firmly in its grasp. In the second quarter of 2020, on behalf of Randstad Germany, the ifo Institute surveyed just under 800 German HR managers to find out what effect the virus is having on companies and their work processes.
Sustainability at German Companies (1st Quarter 2020)
Sustainability: a buzzword encountered frequently in social and public discourse. In the first quarter of 2020, on behalf of Randstad Germany, the ifo Institute conducted a survey of just under 800 German HR managers. The goal was to investigate how German companies understand “sustainability” and how they put it into practice. Overall, the results of the survey show that the majority of the companies already seem to be investing more time and effort in the topic of sustainability. The focus here is usually on environmental protection issues, but sustainability efforts have also already found their way into the HR domain. It is striking, however, that companies’ commitment is driven more by stakeholder motives or a sense of social responsibility than by legal requirements, which play only a subordinate role.