Getting unemployed with problematic debt problems to work A quick scan of debt help strategies by European Public Employment Services

More and more long term unemployed and lately also other unemployed looking for work, see themselves confronted with not directly work related problems as a barrier to work. Many are not self-reliant and need help in the form of social help, childcare, transport facilities, addiction care and help with relief of problematic debts. Over-indebtedness turns out to be a major barrier. Potentially debt relief can be effective in a more effective job search. Little knowledge is as yet available of debts and type of debt-relief in the context of employment servicing for the unemployed. This working paper offers a quick-scan of debt help strategies in the context of employment services.
The quick-scan was held in 2016 amongst the European public employment services. The survey results show significant differences in approaches between the countries. The quick-scan clarifies that we are just in the initial stage of encompassing debt relief as an employment instrument.