PGEMPLST provides a consistent status variable to differentiate among different types of employment status of the respondent. It is generated from the plb0022_v# variables in pl.dta and is designed to provide consistent longitudinal data on employment status across all waves.

The category [5] “not employed” comprises non-working individuals, those in military/community service, those on maternity leave, and employed people in a phased retirement scheme (Altersteilzeit) whose current actual working hours are zero.
From 1998 on, the additional category [6] “sheltered workshop” is included for disabled people in sheltered employment (Behindertenwerkstatt). Starting in the 2021 wave, respondents were given an additional response option to indicate whether they were currently on short-time work (Kurzarbeit). As a result, a new category [7] “In short-time work” was introduced.

For the teenagers (aged 11 to 17) in the M3, M4, M5 and M6 refugee samples introduced in 2017 there a set of variables from jugendl.dta is used. In case these teenagers do not attend school, they were asked about their alternative status. Those teenagers who attend school, are in vocational preparation year, in a vocational training, or in vocational school were assigned value [3] “Vocational Training” . Those waiting for the start of the school term or vocational training, are categorized as [5] “not employed”. In case the teenagers do not attend school and are working the respondents were classified to category [1] “Full-Time Employment”.
Between 2016 and 2020, there are some 17-year-olds in refugee-samples (M3, M4 and M5) who did not complete the youth questionnaire but for whom responses are available from the child questionnaire (netto code 29). For these respondents, data from kidlong.dta are used and they are categorized in the same way as the other refugee teenagers.

PGEMPLST supplements the variable PGLFS, which differentiates among individuals who are not employed.