Weak Ties for a Weak Population: Expanding Personal Social Networks Among the Unemployed to Increase Job-Seeking Success

Unqualified middle-aged and older unemployed people have little chance of finding a suitable job via Internet-based systems. These individuals have a low education level, fewer technological skills, and low self-esteem as a result of long-term unemployment; therefore, their relevant job opportunities diminish. This article describes a successful pilot project among 108 chronically unemployed Jews and Arabs in 5 employment centers in Israel. By sharing each other's lists of acquaintances under the guidance of professional consultants, 41% of them found a job. The results have strengthened the authors' assumption that educating people to use expanded weak personal networks (non-Internet) to find jobs is both effective and beneficial.