Dissertation_Paula Aleksandrowicz_12 ... - Jacobs University

4.2.1. Presentation of the Studied Establishments
The studied 14 establishments (firm sites) in Western Germany employed between 300
and 16,000 workers at the time of the first interview (Table 15). The sample covered various
branches of the economy, with an overrepresentation of manufacturing and there, the
foodstuffs industry (5 firms) and transportation equipment industry (3 firms). Three
establishments belonged to the services sector and were either civil service organisations or
public bodies, consisting mostly of clerks.
The share of ´50pluses´ of at least ten per cent among the workforce was one of the
sampling criteria. The personnel statistics of firms were not homogeneous and depicted the
workforce in different age ranges. Firm DE-4, a statutory health fund, was the youngest one,
and the high-tech Firm DE-12 the oldest one.
The average age across twelve firms in the sample with 500 and more employees which
provided such data was 42.7 years. Compared to the average age of workforce in West
German firms of the same size in 2003, it was 2.5 years higher (Bellmann et al. 2006a: 49).
The average share of workers aged 50+ or 51+ in ten firms from the sample with 500 or
more workers which provided data for that age range (with Firm DE-7 and Firm DE-8
counted as one due to missing detailed data) was 24.9 per cent. Representative data for firms
of the same size in Western Germany report an average share of ´50pluses´ of 22.4 per cent
(ibid: 119). Thus, firms in my sample represent a comparatively aged faction of firms in
Western Germany. However, the age structure of firms in my sample in most cases reflects
regular staff, while firms in the IAB panel are described including apprentices, which lowers
the average age of the workforce.
Eight establishments closed the balance sheet year 2002 or 2003 (depending on the
provided data) with operating profit, four with deficit.
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