“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.
iaw Colloquium: “The Renaissance of the ‘Unwilling Unemployed:’ Facts, Myths, and Political Instrumentalization”
René Böhme and Irene Dingeldey will present their findings on February 26, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the University of Bremen’s Forum at Domshof under the title “Die Renaissance des arbeitsunwilligen Arbeitslosen: Fakten, Mythen und politische Instrumentalisierung” (The Renaissance of the “Unwilling Unemployed:” Facts, Myths, and Political Instrumentalization) in German. The presentation will focus on empirical findings regarding the living conditions of individuals receiving a citizen’s income and the political exploitation of the debate surrounding it.
Further Information:
Böhme, René; Dingeldey, Irene (2026). Die Renaissance des „arbeitsunwilligen Arbeitslosen“ im öffentlichen Diskurs. Eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme mit Blick auf die soziale Lebenslage von Personen im Leistungsbezug nach Sozialgesetzbuch II, Vierteljahreshefte zur Arbeits- und Wirtschaftsforschung, S. 1-18, https://doi.org/10.3790/vaw.2025.1473402. The publication is part of the special editions 3 and 4 2025 of the Quarterly Journal of Labour and Economic Research (VAW) on the topic “Myths of Social Politics,” which discusses “mythical” debates in additional social policy areas.
elibrary.duncker-humblot.com/journal/122/vierteljahreshefte-zur-arbeits-und-wirtschaftsforschung
iaw Colloquium on February 26, 2026, Forum at Domshof, Banking Hall, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Contact
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
