6. Conclusions
COVID-19-related lockdowns
This study contributes to existing literature on the effectiveness of the JOBS Program, which was studied in Germany for the first time. Shortly after the training sessions were conducted (T1), people who had participated in the JOBS training showed better life satisfaction, and better general as well as mental health. Although it was not statistically significant, job-search self-efficacy appeared to be positively associated with the JOBS training. Despite the enormous limitations created by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with regard to recruiting participants, our results suggest that JOBS Germany is effective—at least in terms of health-related outcomes.It is known that usually, mental health is more strongly affected among the long-term unemployed compared to short-term unemployed people [The introduction of the JOBS Program as a nationwide intervention in Germany could be another way for the target group to achieve a better future with better health and increased chances of reemployment. In addition to the current concept of face-to-face teaching, blended learning concepts could be used to replace or complement the current training program. This could increase the reach and would be more feasible for certain target groups who, for personal reasons, cannot easily complete a 20 h training course outside their home.The results indicate that the training only partially increased the self-efficacy of the participants. Among other reasons, this could possibly also be related to the fact that the participants in the observation period were aware that reintegration into the labor market was made even more difficult due to the COVID-19-related lockdowns [However, since self-efficacy expectations are also based on personal experience of positive coping, it could also be helpful to offer individual counseling after the training sessions. In this way, the trainers could support the participants individually in the application process beyond the training units; for example, in the preparation of contacts with employers or regarding job interviews. Such “milestones” could be followed up and the positive aspects of these activities could be worked out—similar to the JOBS training sessions.The results obtained under the difficult conditions suggest that the further development of the JOBS Program Germany is promising. We therefore recommend that, if the JOBS Program intervention is offered to unemployed people in Germany in the future, its effectiveness should be further investigated to verify the results obtained here and to allow the examination of further endpoints, effect moderations, and subgroups.It should also be investigated to what extent the concept of the JOBS Program can be used even for groups beyond the unemployed. This is because the training is primarily based on strengthening personal resources such as self-efficacy expectations, self-esteem, self-confidence, etc., and can therefore certainly be extended to other, e.g., socially disadvantaged, groups of people.