For nearly every second person, a visit to the job center is pointless - Germany's Job Centres Fail Half of Long-Term Unemployed, Survey Finds

Germany's job centres are facing criticism over their support for the long-term unemployed. A new survey reveals that nearly half of those receiving Bürgergeld see no benefit from their visits. The findings come as the government prepares to overhaul welfare rules from mid-2026.

The study, conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation, polled over 1,000 unemployed individuals aged 25 to 50 who had been claiming benefits for at least a year. It highlights persistent challenges in helping people return to work, despite generally positive views of job centre staff.

Between April 15 and June 18, 2025, researchers gathered responses from long-term unemployed citizens. The results showed that 46 percent of claimants face multiple barriers to employment, including health problems or insufficient qualifications. Yet, over two-thirds expressed satisfaction with job centre staff, and nearly three-quarters found them competent.

Despite this, 46 percent of participants reported that job centre visits did little to improve their job prospects. The Bertelsmann Foundation suggested that centres should focus more on coaching, skills training, and direct job offers. For those without major obstacles, the report recommended pushing harder for self-directed job searches—even if it reduces satisfaction with support services. The survey follows broader concerns about Bürgergeld, introduced in 2023 to replace Hartz IV. Since then, integration rates for the long-term unemployed have declined. Structural issues like health, age, and low qualifications have played a bigger role than unwillingness to work. In response, the Bundestag approved a reform to replace Bürgergeld with a stricter basic welfare system from July 1, 2026. The new Grundsicherung will prioritise quick job placement over long-term training. It will also reintroduce stricter sanctions and work obligations, similar to the old Hartz IV model.

The reforms aim to reverse the decline in employment integration by enforcing faster job placements and tighter rules. From mid-2026, claimants will face renewed pressure to seek work, with less focus on extended qualifications. The changes mark a shift back toward stricter welfare conditions, mirroring past policies.