Martin Ehlert

Prof. Martin Ehlert is a Professor of Sociology with a focus on education and digitalization at Freie Universität Berlin since October 2021. He leads the Research Group National Educational Panel Study (NEPS): Vocational Training and Lifelong Learning, established in March 2020. Previously, he held roles as a Research Fellow at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, including in the Research Department Skill Formation and Labor Markets (2013–2020) and the Research Unit Inequality and Social Integration (2009–2012).

Education:

• PhD in Political and Social Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin (2013)
• M.A. Social Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (2006–2009)
• B.A. Social Sciences, Universität Osnabrück (2002–2006)

Research Focus: Ehlert’s work centers on education and training systems, labor markets, welfare state policies, and social inequality. He explores how digitalization reshapes adult learning and vocational training. His projects address topics like the impact of automation on education choices, pandemic-driven shifts in digital learning, and gender disparities in educational pathways. Recent studies examine cross-national differences in training participation and policy responses to technological change.

Key Projects:

• TECHNEQUALITY: Analyzing technological inequality and its societal impacts
• National Educational Panel Study (NEPS): Tracking vocational training and lifelong learning
• Leveraging field experiments to study barriers in college enrollment for underprivileged students

Grants and Advising: Ehlert’s grants include funding for comparative analyses of education systems and digital skill development. He advises on policy initiatives to enhance workforce training accessibility, particularly for vulnerable groups like low-achieving school leavers. His work informs German and international educational reforms.

Labs/Teams: Leads the NEPS Vocational Training Group and collaborates with the Doctoral Program 'Good Work' on future labor market dynamics.