Arbeitsförderprogrammen

Arbeitsförderpolitik, in English often translated as employment promotion policy, refers to government actions aimed at increasing employment, reducing unemployment, and helping workers adapt to changing labor markets. It seeks to improve the match between job seekers and available jobs, raise skill levels, and maintain or raise economic resilience during shocks.

Policies are typically divided into active labor market policies (ALMP) and passive income support. ALMP measures include job placement and career guidance, subsidies for training and apprenticeship, wage subsidies or tax incentives for employers who hire or train job seekers, public employment programs, and programs to promote entrepreneurship or mobility. Passive instruments include unemployment insurance or other social assistance that provides income during unemployment, often linked to eligibility and job-seeking requirements.

Implementation and governance vary by country but generally involve a national employment agency or ministry of labor, often with regional offices. Financing comes from social insurance, general taxation, and sometimes employer contributions. Policy design emphasizes activation—encouraging jobseekers to return to work—while balancing income support and social protection.

Evaluation focuses on employment outcomes, duration of unemployment, and cost-effectiveness. Critics caution against excessive coercion, administrative complexity, and the risk that short-term activation does not translate into lasting employment gains for all groups. Overall, Arbeitsförderpolitik aims to reduce structural unemployment by improving skills, matching, and labor-market flexibility within a framework of social protection.