This paper studies the patterns of unemployment dynamics in Germany. To provide a deeper insight into the margins of unemployment adjustment, we employ a structural VAR model and identify the effects of a technology shock as well as two policy shocks. We find that the worker reallocation process varies substantially with the identified shocks. The job finding rate plays a larger role following a technology shock and a monetary policy shock, while the separation rate appears as the dominant margin after a fiscal policy shock. Technology shocks are relatively important for variations in the transition rates, though they do not seem to trigger the high volatilities of German labor market variables. Considering policy shocks, our results point towards fiscal interventions as a promising instrument, but with several limitations.
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