עוני ותעסוקה: דפוסי תעסוקה בקרב מקבלי שירותים החיים בעוני במחלקות לשירותים חברתיים

This study examines the employment status of people living in poverty who use the services of social services departments. Additionally, the study examines the role of sociodemographic characteristics, human capital indicators, and health condition in explaining the participants’ employment patterns and their subjective perception regarding their employment status. Using a mixed methods approach, 166 service users were phone interviewed at two points of time: from June to October 2016 and one year later, from June to November 2017. The quantitative findings indicated that over 40% had been employed during both time periods, one third had not been employed at all, and approximately one quarter had moved between employment and unemployment. Greater labor force attachment was associated with the number of children in the household, country of birth, older age, having vocational training, absence of intergenerational distress, and better health condition. Most of the participants, at both measurements points, were employed at part-time jobs, while this rate slightly decreased from the first measurement point to the second. Being a man, older and living with a partner were associated with the scope of employment. The qualitative findings showed that the participants’ employment preferences were the product of a broad set of considerations. Thus, many participants felt trapped in part-time jobs, with no better alternative. Recommendations for policy and further research are discussed.