Born on 16 January 40 in Neheim; married, two daughters
 
Since November 2005
Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Vice-Chancellor
 
2004 - 2005
Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
 
2002 - 2004
Chairman of SPD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag
 
1999 - 2002
General Secretary of the SPD
 
1999
Provisional Federal Secretary of the SPD
 
1998 - 1999
Federal Minister of Regional Planning, Building, Urban Development and Transport
 
1998 - 2001
Chairman of SPD North Rhine-Westphalia
 
1995 - 1998
Federal Secretary of the SPD
 
Since 1996
Member of the State Assembly of North Rhine-Westphalia
 
1992 - 1995
Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of the federal state (Land) of North Rhine-Westphalia
 
Since 1991
Member of the SPD Party Executive
 
1991 - 1992
Parliamentary secretary of the SPD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag
 
1975 - 1992
Member of the German Bundestag
 
1969 - 1979
Member of the Sundern Town/Borough Council
 
Since 1967
Member of trade union IG-Metall
 
Since 1966
Member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
 
1957 - 1961
Industrial clerk at a medium-sized metal processing company
 
1954 - 1957
Commercial apprenticeship as an industrial clerk