Nordhausen’s Controversial Copilot Scheme Forces Jobless Youth Into Work

When missed appointments mean home visits, is this tough love or overreach? A German district’s bold move to cut youth unemployment stirs outrage.

, and Administrator

2025 November 22 . 7:56 PM

1 min read

This picture describes about group of people, and we can see few T-shirts, in the background we can... — This picture describes about group of people, and we can see few T-shirts, in the background we can find few traffic lights, trees, poles and buildings.

"Unwanted Coalition" - Jusos See Attacks on SPD Values - Nordhausen’s Controversial Copilot Scheme Forces Jobless Youth Into Work

A new copilot scheme in Nordhausen is pushing young unemployed people into work—by sending officials to their homes if they fail to appear. The district, which has Thuringia’s highest youth unemployment rate, has contacted around 60 individuals in the first phase. But the approach has sparked controversy, with the state’s Young Socialists (Jusos) condemning it as a breach of core social democratic values.

The programme, led by District Administrator Matthias Jendricke (SPD), targets young people who have disengaged from job centres. When participants did not turn up for assigned work, officials—backed by the public order office—visited their homes. Of the 30 who responded, only eight actually showed up, earning an extra euro per hour.

The Nordhausen copilot continues despite the backlash, with officials maintaining that direct intervention is necessary to tackle youth unemployment. The dispute highlights deep divisions over welfare policies in Thuringia. For now, the scheme remains in place, though its long-term impact is still unclear.