A Critical Perspective of Contemporary Unemployment Policy and Practices

Abstract

This article explores the challenges of unemployment via the lens of critical psychology. The conventional discourse on unemployment is critiqued, revealing ways in which conventional policies and practices serve to further marginalize the lives of the unemployed and impede the development of ethical, effective, and empathic individual interventions and structural changes. In the practice realm, the importance of inclusion of mental health treatments in work-based interventions is highlighted based on the prevalence of psychological problems as a direct outcome of unemployment. New directions in research and public policy emerging from a critical analysis of existing are also outlined.

Job Search: A Multidisciplinary Review and Research Agenda

“…To date, job search scholarship has been dominated by a functionalist–positivist approach using statistical techniques and exploring cause–effect relationships between variables (Blustein et al . ). While such approaches are useful, the offer only a limited view of the job search phenomenon.…”

“…In addition to this multidisciplinary/level approach, we encourage using different ontologies, epistemologies and research methodologies. To date, job search scholarship has been dominated by a functionalist-positivist approach using statistical techniques and exploring cause-effect relationships between variables (Blustein et al 2011). While such approaches are useful, the offer only a limited view of the job search phenomenon.…”

“…In addition, confining our understanding of job search within the I/O psychological literature does not adequately account for the social, political and economic contexts that constrain and/or enable individual behavior (Blustein et al . , p. 5). These arguments clearly present a further class to integrate sociological, economic and I/O psychology theory into job search scholarship.…”

Opportunities for Action: Traditionally Marginalized Populations and the Economic Crisis

“…There seems to be consistent disparity in unemployment rates across marginalized groups throughout the economic crisis, as evidenced by the statistics reported by the Department of Labor. Given that unemployment has a negative psychological impact on individuals (Blustein, Medvide, & Wan, 2011;Paul & Moser, 2009), this disparity in unemployment suggests the possibility that marginalized groups experience higher rates of mental health consequences. For example, Paul and Moser (2009) conducted a meta-analysis to determine what is known about the connection between employment status and mental health status.…”

Career Construction for Hephapreneurship1: Alternative Framework for Persons with Disabilities2

“…Unemployment in this article refers to the lack of access to work in the labour market and is considered a major factor that can often lead to life changes well beyond the period of non-work in the marketplace (Blustein, Medvide & Wan, 2011). Unemployment in relation to disability is associated with the employment exclusion of differently abled persons.…”