Laborstudien

Laborstudien, or labor studies, is an interdisciplinary field that examines work, employment, and labor relations. It investigates how labor markets allocate jobs, determine wages, and shape social outcomes, and it also studies work organization, productivity, and the conditions of employment across sectors. The field often sits at the intersection of sociology, economics, political science, law, and anthropology, sometimes under the labels Arbeitswissenschaft in German-speaking contexts and Industrial Relations.

Historically, Laborstudien emerged from the study of industrial society, labor movements, and social policy in the 20th century, expanding with globalization, automation, and changes in gender roles and migration. Subfields include labor economics, sociology of work, industrial relations, human resource management, occupational health and safety, labor law, social policy, migration and labor, and the informal economy.

Research methods range from quantitative analysis of labor force data and econometrics to qualitative approaches such as interviews, ethnography, and policy evaluation. Educational programs offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, preparing graduates for academia, think tanks, government agencies, trade unions, NGOs, and corporate HR and organizational development departments.

Relevance: Laborstudien inform policy on unemployment, wage setting, job quality, equality, and the impact of automation and globalization. Debates in the field include precarious work, the gig economy, work-life balance, and the effects of immigration on labor markets. In German-speaking contexts, the field may be taught under Labor Studies or Arbeitswissenschaft, emphasizing the practical and policy dimensions of work.