The occupational profiles of the members of the 18th German Bundestag

The failure of the FDP to re-enter parliament after the 2013 Bundestag elections as well as the influx of over more than 200 new parliamentarians led to a shift in the occupational structure of the German Bundestag. Using Adalbert Hess' occupational categories, this article continues the tradition of looking at trends in the occupational structure of German MPs, especially at differences in occupational backgrounds between East and West Germans with a focus on younger parliamentarians. More MPs are drawn from occupational fields close to politics, specifically from employees of parties and parliamentary party groups. The exit of the FDP led to fewer freelance professionals in the current Bundestag. Differences between East and West German MPs persist, as fewer Easterners are to be found in the ranks of higher administration as well as among freelancers and self-employed; more often they are drawn from the employees of parties and parliamentary party groups. Adapted from the source document.