Unemployment remains a major social problem in Australia. Successive governments have attempted to address the problem, in part, by funding occupational skills-based training programs for the unemployed. This paper reviews the general area of occupational skills/personal effectiveness training for unemployed people, and reports on outcomes for individuals attending “typical” courses in Australia. Also reported are outcomes for unemployed people who attended specially devised training, based on the cognitive-behavioural (e.g., Beck, 1976) and learned optimism (Seligman, 1990) intervention approaches. This training aimed to improve well-being, confidence and coping abilities. Variables assessed included individual well-being (e.g. psychological distress), confidence (e.g. self-efficacy), attitude-to-work (e.g. work commitment), training climate and labour market outcomes such as return-to-work. More positive outcomes were identified for unemployed people attending the specially devised programs. The authors argue that training targeted at unemployed people must be based on sound theoretical principles to produce measurable long-term benefits. Future applications of personal development programs are discussed in relation to occupational skills-based training and as stand-alone programs.
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