Human capital is the sum of the economically usable skills, knowledge, competencies and also the behaviour and health status of the working population of an economy. The term expresses the fact that it is first and foremost education that really enables an individual to become economically productive, just as, in the same way, cultivation is necessary for the soil to be productive. In the literature, the terms human capital and human resources are sometimes used interchangeably.
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26. June 2026 | Groups of Persons
Employment growth in Germany from 2017 to 2024: What drives employment in an ageing society?
Between 2017 and 2024, employment growth in Germany was mainly driven by a rising population and increasing employment rates. Gains were concentrated among migrants, women and older workers, while ...read more
4. May 2026 | Digital and ecological transformation
The gender AI gap: “AI is becoming a key resource – but men and women are not using it in the same way”
The rapid spread of AI in the workplace is creating a new divide: the gender AI gap. A recent study by the IAB conducted in collaboration with Initiative D21 shows that women use AI considerably less ...read more
27. April 2026 | Digital and ecological transformation
App-based delivery services in Germany: Why people take up gig-work and usually quit quickly
Dr Martin Friedrich , Prof Dr Ines Helm , Dr Ramona Jost , Dr Julia Lang , Dr Christoph Müller
App-based delivery services have spread rapidly in Germany in recent years. This has also fuelled public debate about the poor working conditions of the gig-workers in these services. However, there ...read more