The Implementation and Evaluation of the South African Adaptation of the JOBS Program

Abstract

No validated intervention that specifically addresses the psychosocial needs of unemployed people exists in the South African context. This study intends to evaluate an evidence-based job-search program, called the JOBS intervention, that is aimed at the self-efficacy, amotivation, and self-esteem related to participants searching for jobs. A quasi-experimental research design was used. Convenient samples were taken of unemployed individuals from two low-income communities (N = 130; experimental group = 69; control group = 61). The Qhubekela Phambili program, which is based on the JOBS program, was adapted for the South African context and was implemented over six 4-h sessions. Data collection took place pre-and post-intervention. One-way repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Those who had undergone the intervention showed statistically significantly higher levels of job-search self-efficacy and self-esteem. This study makes a novel contribution to the literature on the JOBS program, particularly regarding developing countries. This study showed that in a context characterized by poverty and a lack of support for the unemployed, the program also delivered promising results. It confirms previous findings that the JOBS program is suitable in a variety of labor market and economic conditions.

iJobs – An online implementation of the JOBS II program for fostering reemployment: A feasibility and acceptability study

“…Our results showed that iJobs is a feasible intervention and that the participants found it acceptable. The dropout rate was 36 %, close to the mean percentage (i.e., 35 %) reported in the literature on internet interventions ( Melville et al, 2010 ), but higher as compared to the face-to-face delivery of JOBS (e.g., 14 % in the trial of Paver et al, 2020 ). Moreover, the number and quality of completed modules were high among protocol-compliant participants.…”

“…Over the years, the program has been adopted in different countries around the world: Finland ( Vuori and Vinokur, 2005 ), China ( Price et al, 2006 ), Ireland ( Barry et al, 2006 ), Netherlands, Sweden, and South Korea ( Price and Vinokur, 2014 ). Recently was used in South Africa ( Paver et al, 2020 ), and a randomized controlled trial is ongoing in Germany ( Hollederer et al, 2021 ). However, thus far, the program has been delivered solely in a face-to-face setting.…”

“…In this context, the program promotes change mechanisms such as coping resources (i.e., inoculation against setbacks), self-efficacy (i.e., job search self-efficacy), and self-esteem. Those mechanisms seem critical for the job search process to be successful ( Paver et al, 2020 ; Price and Vinokur, 2014 ; Vinokur et al, 1995a , Vinokur et al, 1995b , Vinokur et al, 2000 ). Inoculation against setbacks refers to the individual's ability to cope successfully with stressful situations and develop strategies to overcome them ( Vuori and Vinokur, 2005 ).…”

“…Job search self-efficacy refers to the individual's belief that they can perform job search activities successfully ( Saks and Ashforth, 1999 ; Vinokur and Caplan, 1987 ). Self-esteem refers to the favorable or unfavorable perception of oneself ( Rosenberg, 1979 ) and plays an important role in maintaining the job seeker's motivation and perseverance in the job search process ( Caplan et al, 1989 ; Paver et al, 2020 ). JOBS enhances self-esteem by encouraging participants to acknowledge, expose and develop their personal resources ( Paver et al, 2020 ), and intends to maximize participants' job search abilities ( Price and Vinokur, 2014 ).…”

Efficacy of the iJobs Web-Based Psychoeducational Intervention to Improve Job Search Behavior and Promote Mental Health Among Unemployed People: Protocol for a Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The JOBS II intervention [ 4 ] is one of them. JOBS is a job-search intervention intended to promote re-employment and mental health that differentiates itself from others by being studied in and adopted by many countries over the years, such as Finland [ 5 ], China [ 6 ], Ireland [ 7 ], Netherlands, Sweden, and South Korea [ 8 ], South Africa [ 9 ], or Germany [ 10 ].…”