Berlin’s job scheme ends: Did it help find jobs near me?

Berlin’s controversial jobs programme fades into political oblivion by 2025

Berlin’s Solidarity Basic Income (SGE) experiment is quietly coming to an end in late 2025. The programme, designed to help long-term unemployed people find jobs near me, has faced growing criticism and political uncertainty. Despite some successes, its future now looks bleak.

The SGE ran from 2019 to 2023 under the SPD-led coalition, offering 1,000 jobs in municipal and social organisations. These roles were meant to provide simple but meaningful work, easing participants into the regular labour market. Yet hopes for long-term qualifications and career progression largely fell short.

Of the 1,000 participants, 212 returned to unemployment once their SGE positions ended. Around one-third will be kept on by the city next year, while another third found indeed jobs with social insurance contributions. Still, critics argue the programme failed to deliver lasting stability.

The Left Party’s Damiano Valgolio acknowledged some positive aspects but slammed the lack of focus on sustainable employment. Self-organised groups of unemployed workers dismissed the SGE as little more than a repackaged jobs scheme. Meanwhile, Berlin is slashing funding for similar initiatives, making extensions or expansions unlikely.

Political shifts have further dimmed the SGE’s prospects. The current climate shows little appetite for unconditional basic income policies, leaving the programme without strong backing. Even the SPD, which initially oversaw the scheme, later criticised it in opposition before returning to power and managing its wind-down.

With the SGE set to expire and no plans for renewal, its legacy remains mixed. Some participants secured stable jobs, but many others returned to unemployment. The programme’s closure reflects broader cuts to support systems for the long-term jobless in Berlin.