[Regional characteristics of diagnoses of unemployed people under socio-medical assessments by the Medical Service of the Federal Employment Agency]

Abstract

There is a correlation between unemployment and health status of unemployed people. In Germany, there is a lack of current data on this relationship, particularly on the basis of medical diagnoses and regional characteristics.All socio-medical assessments by the Medical Service of the Federal Employment Agency between 2016-2021 were analyzed nationwide with regard to diagnoses, results of performance assessment and regional characteristics.A total of 4,249,028 socio-medical assessments were analyzed. In 2021, an average of 1.4% of all unemployed were assessed, relatively most from the region of Berlin-Brandenburg (1.9%); in absolute terms, most in North Rhine-Westphalia (19.2%). Relative to the unemployment rate, most assessments took place in Baden-Württemberg. In all regions, F-diagnoses (mental disorders) led with the highest values among those who under the age of 25 (3/4) and living in Berlin-Brandenburg (62.4%), followed by M-diagnoses (musculoskeletal disorders) with the highest values (35.9%) in Lower Saxony-Bremen and I-diagnoses (circulatory disorders) with the highest values (14.8%) in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. While the overall burden of disease was highest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin-Brandenburg had the highest number of those being unable to work (40.7%). Overall, 33.9% of all assessed unemployed people were classified as being unable to work (<3 hours/day).Illnesses are an important obstacle to breaking through unemployment. Accordingly, treatment can help people to return to the labor market. The regional variations shown here indicate differences that are difficult to explain.