Basic Security and the Labor Market Integration Policies for Jobseekers in Germany

Abstract

In German, basic security for Jobseekers is administered under the legislation, Book II of the Social Code, which came into force on January 1, 2005. Introduced as part of the country’s active labor market policy, the scheme seeks to promote gainful employment among unemployed and low-income individuals of working age (15 to 67). It provides individualised carreer guidance and job placement services, while also ensuring a basic standard of living through income support, formerly known as Arbeitslosengeld II, while replaced the previous unemployment assistance programmes. In 2023, Arbeitskosengeld II was renames Bürgergeld, with the reform easing eligibility requirements and the placing greater emphasis on suppporting jobseekers and low-income earners in developing their skills and work competencies. The overarching goal is to enable recipients to achieve substainable labor market integration and long-term ecomomic self-sufficiency.