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Though empirically untenable, the narrative of the unemployed who are unwilling to work serves a political function by legitimizing restrictive reforms, individualizing structural labor market problems, and reinforcing stigmatization, an Institute for Labour and Economy (iaw) analysis shows.
“The empirical findings paint a much more nuanced picture than the public debate,” emphasizes Dr. René Böhme from the Institute for Labour and Economy (iaw) at the University of Bremen. Of the approximately 5.7 people who received welfare benefits in December 2024, 1.7 million were unable to work, most of these were children and teenagers. Around 825,000 people were employed and received supplemental benefits. Of the 3.1 million benefit recipients who were able to work, only around 1.8 million were officially classified as unemployed. According to statistics from the German Federal Employment Agency, the proportion of those who “completely refused” to work was 0.4 percent.
Only 1.8 Million Officially Unemployed
At the same time, the researchers found that large proportions of benefit recipients who are able to work face structural barriers to job placement. Forty-four percent are affected by at least one statistically recorded barrier, while another forty-four percent are affected by several barriers simultaneously. These barriers include long-term unemployment, lack of vocational qualifications, health restrictions, older age, and family care responsibilities. Qualitative studies also show that these burdens often superimpose themselves in everyday life, making integration into the labor market more difficult.
With this background, the authors interpret the “unwilling unemployed” as a politically effective narrative. “This myth individualizes social risks, obscures the structural causes of unemployment, and perpetuates an understanding of the welfare state that prioritizes activation and sanctions over security and support,” explains Dr. René Böhme from the Institute for Labour and Economy (iaw) at the University of Bremen.
Fixation on Unwillingness to Work Distracts from Need for Reform
According to the researchers, focusing on supposed unwillingness to work obscures the need for structural reforms, such as those related to training, poverty reduction, and work-life balance. “Instead of addressing problems in a nuanced manner, morally charged simplifications dominate discussions,” says Professor Irene Dingeldey.
The study therefore calls for an objective, empirically-based debate on unemployment. Böhme maintains that “social welfare support should not be seen as an instrument of mistrust, but rather as an expression of social solidarity and shared responsibility.”
Methodologically, the study is based on a secondary analysis of official statistics, quantitative and qualitative research, and literature on social theory. Current data from the German Federal Employment Agency on the structure and extent of benefit receipt, long-term unemployment, qualification levels, and placement barriers were evaluated, among other things. Panel analyses, evaluation studies on labor market policy, and qualitative studies on stigmatization experiences were also included.
Dr. René Böhme, University of Bremen, Institute for Labour and Economy, Phone: +49 421 218-61722, Email: rene.boehme@uni-bremen.de
Prof. Dr. Irene Dingeldey, University of Bremen, Institute for Labour and Economy, Phone: +49 421 218-61710, Email: dingeldey@uni-bremen.de
https://doi.org/10.3790/vaw.2025.1473402
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