The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) invites applications for a research associate position in labor economics. The successful candidate will be part of the Research Group of the Director Prof. Bernd Fitzenberger (FGDir).
The IAB is the independent research institute of the German Federal Employment Agency. It is a leading institution for labor market research in Europe and advises policy makers and the professional public. The IAB is based in Nuremberg and collaborates closely with national and international universities and research institutes. In the 2023 WirtschaftsWoche ranking, IAB ranked fourth among research institutes in economics placed in German-speaking countries in terms of publication output.
The position is full-time for two years, with the possibility of extension and the possibility to enter a tenure-track evaluation process for a permanent senior researcher position.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in economics or a related field or be close to completion, and demonstrate evidence of high-quality research. Applicants should have research expertise in labor economics, the economics of vocational education and training or applied microeconomics in general and a strong background in microeconometrics. Ideal candidates show a strong interest in policy issues related to the areas of research and policy advice of the institute.
Research Associates are expected to develop and conduct research projects both independently and as part of a team. They should publish their research in international peer-reviewed journals and contribute to policy debates through policy-briefs and public media outlets. IAB offers competitive salaries (determined by the collective agreement of the Federal Employment Agency) and a generous travel budget for conference participations and research visits within Germany and abroad. The research institute provides a vibrant academic research environment with an excellent infrastructure and great opportunities through excellent data access (e.g., to the register data of the German Federal Employment Agency and IAB’s survey data) and research funding (e.g. to procure external data). It supports young scholars by offering varied internal and external training opportunities and by providing access to its vast national and international network to develop excellent academic or professional careers.
The IAB is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer and encourages women to apply for the position. It offers a mentoring program for female researchers. Persons with disabilities with equal qualifications will be favorably regarded. Part-time employment is possible. German language proficiency is an advantage, but not mandatory.
Interested candidates are requested to apply via EconJobMarket.org by November 20, 2026. Applications should include (i) a cover letter, (ii) CV and certificates of academic degrees, (iii) two reference letters, (iv) a research statement, and (v) at least one recent research paper.
E-mail address for inquiries is: jobmarket@iab.de.
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- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Job market paper
- Research statement
- Other file (optional)
- Video presentation of job market paper (optional)
- Additional paper (optional)
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