What is the IAB Kurzbericht and why is it the most reliable source for the German job market?

The IAB Kurzbericht (Institute for Employment Research, Q053) is the scientific research institute of the Federal Employment Agency. It is considered the most reliable free source because: (1) Based on complete social insurance data (not samples), (2) Independent research without advertising interests, (3) Updated quarterly, (4) Methodologically transparent and peer-reviewed. What the IAB measures: Employment, skills shortages, wage development, commuter mobility, occupational transitions, qualification requirements. Specifically useful for applicants: Occupational field reports (showing whether your profession is growing or shrinking), wage reports (more precise than company surveys), skills shortage analysis (a better negotiation argument than job portal data). Supplemented by Destatis for official statistics and BA Entgeltatlas for concrete salary data.