Aim

The “JOBS Program” is an intervention for the unemployed to promote health and labor market integration and has shown positive effects in the USA and Finland. The aim of this confirmatory study was to investigate whether the JOBS Program produces similar effects in Germany.

Subject and methods

We applied a multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare an intervention group (IVG) with a waiting control group (WCG) before (T0; n = 94) and about 6 months after (T2; n = 43) the intervention.

Results

Although the proportion of long-term unemployed (≥ 12 months) in the intervention group at T2 was high (88.4 %; n = 38), the JOBS Program was beneficial concerning our primary outcomes: Compared to the WCG, the regression estimated that the IVG had (1) a 3.48-point higher level of self-esteem (p = 0.032; scale range: 10–50 points), (2) a 4.93-point higher level of generalized self-efficacy expectations (p = 0.002; scale range: 10–50 points), (3) a 0.41-point higher level of general health (p = 0.016; scale range: 1–5 points), and (4) a 2.04-point lower level of unemployment-related mental burden (p = 0.028; scale range: 10–40 points).

Conclusion

This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of the JOBS Program with respect to the above outcomes, and for older and long-term unemployed, suggesting the benefit of regular implementation for different groups of unemployed people in Germany.