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Gunter Grittmann
Head of Information and Communication
E-mail: grittmann@zew.de
Phone: +49 (0)621-1235-132
Fax: +49 (0)621-1235-255
Kathrin Böhmer
Public Relations Officer
E-mail: boehmer@zew.de
Phone: +49 (0)621-1235-103
Fax: +49 (0)621-1235-225
Companies that have introduced eco-friendly process innovations registered an up to five per cent larger growth in employment than companies that have introduced non-eco-related process innovations. Especially strong stimuli resulted from "green" innovations that lead to reductions in the consumption of material and energy. These are the findings of a recent study conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim in cooperation with Prof. Jens Horbach from the University of Applied Sciences Augsburg. The study analyses the impact of eco-innovations on the employment behaviour of approximately 2,100 companies in Germany between 2006 and 2008. read more
Some firms in Germany still prefer hiring young male applicants to young women; and they hardly hire older job hunters either. The main reason for this personnel strategy, which is not very sustainable in view of the demographic change and the feared shortage of skilled workers, are strong seniority wage increases in these firms. These result from the fact that in the first few years in the firm employees are paid below their productivity and in the last few years above their productivity. These "twisted" wages lead to a strong and long loyalty of motivated employees to the firm, but simultaneously make the hiring of young women and older job hunters unattractive. These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim. read more
In public opinion, outsourcing is usually associated with job cuts. The findings of a current study conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim, however, indicate that this is not generally the case. read more
The economy has just recovered from the economic crisis, and already the public debate about skilled worker shortage is continuing. Many firms claim they are not able to fill vacancies with sufficiently qualified professionals. In the economic sector service providers of the information society, around 24 percent of companies report that they were not able to fill vacancies in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to the lack of skilled professionals. For the year 2011 the service providers of the information society expect the skilled worker shortage to continue though on a slightly lower level. This is the finding of a survey among the service providers of the information society, conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) Mannheim in cooperation with Creditreform, Neuss in December 2010 (see details at end of press release). read more
Academic spinoffs are spinoffs from universities and research institutes. They provide the opportunity to directly apply scientific findings in order that the economy may benefit from the results. In addition, many hope that spinoffs will provide new jobs. Academic spinoffs founded by a team have, on average, a 7.5 percent higher employment growth than spinoffs founded by a single entrepreneur. read more
Small and medium-sized enterprises were strongly affected by the severe economic crisis in 2009. However, small and medium-sized enterprises overall stabilised the economy. Large economies aiming to a large extend at the global market were especially affected by the recession. The crisis did not affect small and medium-sized enterprises that much as these enterprises focus on the domestic market. The economic crisis negatively affected the profit situation. Nevertheless, most small and medium-sized enterprises still want to make investments. Many enterprises plan to at least make replacement and rationalisation investments to keep their manufacturing plants up to date. Moreover, the majority of small and medium-sized enterprises want to bind professionals to their firms. The economic environment remains fragile. The expected increase in GDP for 2010 by about 1.5 percent is too small to overcome the effects of the crisis. read more
In an international comparison, job market participation of older professionals in Germany is quite low. At times it has been suggested that this fact may be accounted for by a somewhat low esteem in the general appraisal of such employees by personnel managers. A recent study however, conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim, Germany, finds that this does not hold true. read more