Job-seekers and Work-shirkers

The inclination to work among the long-term unemployed

Abstract

This study searches for an answer to the question to what extent is unemployment a constraint and to what extent the result of a free choice for those people who are unemployed for a long period. The interviews were conducted in two cities, in Debrecen and Nyíregyháza.

In conducting the 100 interviews we attempted to measure the degree o f ‘the „voluntary character” of unemployment. We investigated what importance was attached by the unemployed persons to finding work as soon as possible and also those special reasons which contribute to the long-term character of unemployment. We tried to identify among the unemployed —whose group is often considered to be a unified group — such types that help to throw light on the motivational background and the forced decisions of those people who are out of work for more than a year.

We analysed in details the typical ways of getting out of unemployment, their forms and their efficiency. We also analysed the most characteristic reasons of „falling back” repeatedly among the unemployed.