Unemployment Benefit Recipients Failing to Access Labour Market Policy Measures

This study analyses the background behind and reasons why unemployment benefit recipients, despite having been invited by the Public Employment Service, fail to participate in labour market policy measures. Although this phenomenon is not new, it has not yet been examined systematically. This recent study aims to close this gap in knowledge by identifying both the personal reasons as well as the organisational/structural background for non-attendance. Additionally, it reveals reasons for premature dropping out in early phases of such labour market policy measures.

Methodically, the project is based on administrative as well as empirical data acquired through qualitative interviews with experts and through approximately 300 telephone surveys of interviewees in the target group. Nine selected measures during the invitation period from 2018 to the first half of 2019 were examined. The results differentiate due to diverse personal and social characteristics (e.g. gender, age, country of origin) as well as between various groups of clients such as recipients of the Viennese needs-based minimum benefit system.