Study Finds Job Center Support Lacking for Citizens’ Benefit Recipients, Disparities Exist
BERLIN – A new study reveals that a meaningful percentage of Germans receiving citizens’ benefit (Bürgergeld) report receiving limited support from job centers in their search for employment, raising concerns about equitable access to resources and effective labor market integration. Teh analysis, conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation, found that approximately 43 percent of surveyed recipients had never been offered a job opportunity through their local job center.
All participants in the study had been receiving citizens’ benefit or its predecessor, ALG II, for at least one year. Further compounding the issue, 38 percent reported not having received any offers for further training measures.
The study highlights disparities in support based on qualifications and personal circumstances. Individuals with vocational training and university degrees were more likely to receive placement offers, while those with chronic illnesses and women with children under six faced the lowest chances. Job centers tended to prioritize further training for individuals who had completed secondary school.
“Women are disadvantaged compared to men both when it comes to job offers and when awarding measures,” the study states.
Researchers advocate for equal treatment in support and opportunities, alongside increased assistance for individuals with health limitations.”Promoting and demanding belong together,” said Tobias Ortmann, a labor market expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation.”Anyone who can work and rejects offers without a good reason should be consistently sanctioned. on the other hand, those who want to work but can’t need more support.”
