Impact of length of unemployment and age on jobless men and women: a comparative analysis

The study examined differences in job search intensity, as well as attitude s toward unemployment and related responses among a sample of 559 jobless I sraelis. Groups of participants were distinguished according to sex, age, a nd length of unemployment. The findings revealed that job search intensity, psychological stress, and work centrality were highest among participants who had been unemployed for 2 to 3 months, and gradually declined for longe r periods of unemployment. Moreover, middle-aged participants spent more ho urs per week searching for jobs and mentioned fewer advantages of unemploym ent than did the younger groups. Furthermore, women reported a sharper decl ine in health as a result of unemployment, as well as lower levels of work centrality.