The effectiveness of the JOBS program among the long-term unemployed: a randomized experiment in the Netherlands

Health Promot Int. 2012 Jun;27(2):220-9. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dar033. Epub 2011 Jun 8.

Abstract

Given the adverse effects of long-term unemployment, it is of major concern that evidence-based interventions are available for the long-term unemployed. Therefore, we examined the effectiveness of the JOBS program, a group training for the unemployed [Caplan, R. D., Vinokur, A. D., Price, R. H. and Van Ryn, M. (1989). Journal of Applied Psychology, 74, 759-769], among long-term unemployed individuals. In a randomly controlled trial, JOBS was compared with a control condition and a voucher intervention, in which individuals were given the opportunity to spend a certain budget on services that could help them reintegrate. After 6 months JOBS participants had more often found a job and were more satisfied with the intervention. After 12 months effects were still visible, but less pronounced.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Program Evaluation
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Welfare*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Unemployment*
  • Vocational Guidance / organization & administration*
  • Young Adult