Developing supported job matches in public employment services: Toward a relational framework

Employer engagement, in which unemployed persons are “matched” with local employers to develop work ability and employability, has received increased attention in public employment service efforts to enhance sustainable employment for individuals with complex needs. This study empirically explores how such aims are realized in professional practice within public employment services and develops a conceptual framework for understanding supported job matching as a relational and developmental process. Analyzing qualitative interviews with 24 employment specialists and 31 unemployed individuals who participated in supported job-matching interventions, I find that job matching is a dynamic process involving four interrelated dimensions: functional, skills-based, social, and interests-based dimensions. The findings contribute a more nuanced understanding of the processes involved in job matching and have practical implications for policymakers and employment specialists aiming to enhance sustainable employment for individuals with complex needs.