”Vad jobbar du med nuförtiden då?” : En kvalitativ studie om upplevelser och erfarenheter hos långtidsarbetslösa personer över 55 år i Söderhamns kommun

by Axling, Jessica

The aim of this study was to examine experiences related to long-term unemployment, of people aged 55-64 years in Söderhamns municipality. This was based on issues relating to experiences based on the situation as unemployed, environmental support and treatment and its impact on the individual's ability to return to work, and attitude and opportunities for a professional future. The survey was carried out with three qualitative interviews, which were inspired by an exploratory interview methodology. These interviews were based on themes in the form of backgrounds - from work to unemployment, the current situation - based on the significance of having a job and unemployment effect, support and treatment, the future - the perception of a professional future, activity, and opportunities. In order to further interpret the empirical material, that was related to three theories; attribution error, action strategies and social capital in service communities. The results and analysis enabled conclusions showed that the solidarity was the most important part of having a job, and what was lacking most of the unemployment. The importance of the solidarity has been declared on the basis of theories on social capital in service communities, and from this it is possible to understand the need for solidarity. Informants have also sought to another form of solidarity than the working life can provide, which can be considered as security for the individual. This community can also mean the maintenance of the defence, which can be considered a disadvantaged to get out of unemployment. The study has also shown that the informants are opposed in relation to the employment service, the authority is not considered to be an aid, but an inspection. This can be attributed to the two parties act without cooperation. The maintenance of the negative perception of employment may partly depend on its behaviour and attributions of attribution error against the informant’s age, and it may be due to the informants' expectations of the employment service. When these are not met, the informants question the authority’s usability. The study has also shown that the informants believe that they have no chance of getting a job in the future, partly because of the experienced old age, and partly because it’s considered that there are no jobs in the municipality. These attitudes can be seen as defence, leading to the informants oscillate between active and passive behaviour. Commuting is thus a process of powerlessness - defence - motivation - behaviour - failure, which further maintains unemployment. Another contributing factor is considered to be standards in service society, which promotes individual passivity.