Bedarfsgemeinschaften und ihre Mitglieder in der Beratungs- und Vermittlungsarbeit der Jobcenter

Abstract

"While placement, counselling and active labour market policy for recipients of German means-tested welfare benefits for jobseekers are based on the potentials and needs of the individual, the amount of welfare benefits received depends on the structure of the household. The present study examines how the fact that benefits are jointly received by all members of multi-person households is taken into account in the practice of counseling and placement in German job centres.<br> The study follows a 'mixed methods' approach in which quantitative and qualitative methods are combined. First, qualitative interviews were conducted in six job centres with caseworkers, team or area managers, equal opportunities officers and job centre management. In addition, interviews with representatives of regional directorates of the Federal Employment Agency were conducted. Also, counselling interactions between caseworkers and welfare recipients were observed using the method of participant observation. Second, a standardized survey of placement experts in 30 job centres was conducted providing information on caseworkers' attitudes and strategies with regard to welfare receiving households. In addition, a factorial survey (vignette analysis) was carried out." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bähr, H., Kirchmann, A., Schafstädt, C., Sippli, K., Späth, J. & Boockmann, B. (2019): Bedarfsgemeinschaften und ihre Mitglieder in der Beratungs- und Vermittlungsarbeit der Jobcenter. (IAB-Forschungsbericht 06/2019), Nürnberg, 196 p.