Alexander Dicks

Dr. Alexander Dicks is a Research Fellow at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, affiliated with the department of Dynamics of Social Inequalities. Previously, he completed his PhD at Maastricht University’s Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA), focusing on marginalized youth and NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) populations. His current work examines vocational training, lifelong learning, and automation impacts on labor markets within the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) research group. Key projects include analyzing transitions into the labor market (Stage 6) and adult education dynamics (Stage 8).

Education background: PhD Candidate at Maastricht University (Netherlands), ROA Research Centre.

Research Interests: Alexander’s work centers on NEET populations, vocational training systems, automation’s labor market effects, and social inequalities. He investigates how structural factors like education, social class, and family networks influence labor market outcomes, particularly for marginalized groups such as young mothers and immigrants.

Publications: Recent works analyze longitudinal NEET studies, automation risks in vocational programs, and policy interventions for vulnerable youth. His 2023 ROA dissertation provides a comprehensive Dutch NEET analysis, while 2024 work explores automated labor market adaptation challenges.

Advising & Grants: Leads projects on vocational training and lifelong learning within NEPS. Collaborates on interdisciplinary teams examining automation impacts and kinship networks in labor market resilience.

Labs/Teams: Part of the NEPS research group, focusing on national educational data analysis and policy-relevant research.