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Exploring the Ingredients of Success: Studying Trajectories of the Vulnerable Unemployed Who Have Entered Work or Education in Denmark

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2019

Sophie Danneris  and
Dorte Caswell
Sophie Danneris
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University E-mail: sophiedj@socsci.aau.dk
Dorte Caswell
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University E-mail: caswell@socsci.aau.dk
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Abstract

When looking at clients with a long history of unemployment and substantial health and/or social problems, stories of success (in terms of moving from being on cash benefits to getting a job) are limited. Thus, when a client does manage to gain employment or enter education, it represents an unusual1 story of success seen from a political, organisational and individual perspective. In this article, we investigate empirically what can be learnt about current active labour market policies from these client cases. Methodologically this is explored through interviews with former clients who have managed to find a job despite dealing with complex health or social issues, and interviews with their former caseworkers. Thus, the article aims to provide insights into the crucial elements in making the move from vulnerable unemployed to being ready for a job, as well as finding it and keeping it.

Keywords

Stories of successwelfare to workvulnerable unemployed
Type
Themed Section: Rethinking Welfare-to-Work for the Long-Term Unemployed
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , October 2019 , pp. 615 - 629
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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