Many people know how tough it can be to find a job, but have you ever considered the social consequences of being unemployed? Compared to those who are employed, unemployed people tend to be more easily viewed as lazy or lacking motivation. Being viewed like this by others may have a strong impact on the social experiences unemployed people have.
Especially for young adults, for whom entering the workforce often involves achieving economic independence, unemployment may come with additional challenges. For instance, unemployed people may expect others to preemptively judge them for having no job and they may expect interactions with others to go badly. Because of that, unemployed people may experience being socially excluded more often than others. Social exclusion could include, for instance, being left out of a group activity or being ignored in a conversation.
No doubt everyone knows what exclusion feels like. So why should we care about one group's exclusion experiences in particular? In the past 20 years, a large body of research has discovered that social exclusion is not just a bummer for your social life but it can take a heavy toll on people's mental well-being and have far-reaching consequences. What is still less known is who in the general population is more at risk of experiencing social exclusion and, therefore, more likely to suffer from these negative consequences.
A Person's Age Really Matters
Because work is an important part of many people's lives, my colleagues and I compared how frequently unemployed and employed adults report being socially excluded in two large survey studies from Germany and New Zealand. In both countries, unemployed individuals reported that they felt more like outsiders and experienced social exclusion more frequently – particularly those who were younger. An additional study conducted in the UK replicated these findings and found that unemployed compared to employed young adults also see their work lives filled with fewer future opportunities. On top of that, expecting to be stigmatized by others due to one's unemployment went hand in hand with more frequent social exclusion experiences.
In sum, our analyses show that young, unemployed adults are particularly vulnerable to being ignored and excluded by others. Feeling isolated and excluded can lead to negative emotions, frustration, and self-doubt, making it even more challenging for unemployed people to bounce back and find a job. Possibly, it may become a cycle that's hard to break. But it's time to challenge these stereotypes and offer support instead of blame.
Creating Positive Change
Okay, let's talk solutions! As first described by Marie Jahoda in 1983, employment offers benefits that go far beyond financial compensation. Losing one's employment includes changes in people's perceived purpose, daily structure, and contacts outside of their families. Programs providing assistance to unemployed people should therefore tackle all these aspects, combining job training, career counseling, and mentorship. Equipping unemployed people with the skills and support they need might thus increase their chances of securing employment.
Unity in Community
Communities play a crucial role in supporting unemployed young adults. As proposed by researchers from the University of Giessen, helping newly unemployed individuals in developing work-related goals and creating a path on how to reach them may shift their perspective of how many possibilities they have left in their work lives. Especially for younger people, who may be unemployed for the first time in their lives, spaces such as networking events where people can connect with others facing similar challenges, may be especially beneficial. As communities, we can build support systems that understand unemployed individuals' experiences and fosters a sense of belonging.
Embracing Inclusion
More generally, these findings stress the importance of creating an inclusive society. Awareness of at-risk groups and the possible consequences present the first steps in breaking the cycle of social exclusion and ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. By coming together, we can offer support and demonstrate that no one should feel left out or unwanted. Together, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and has the chance to succeed.
Let's be the change and support our unemployed young adults on their journey to finding employment and belonging.
For Further Reading
Albath, E. A., Büttner, C. M., Rudert, S. C., Sibley, C. G., & Greifeneder, R. (2023). Young, unemployed, excluded: Unemployed young adults report more ostracism. European Journal of Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2953
Elianne Albath is a Social Psychology researcher at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and studies social exclusion experiences in the general population.
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