Theories of Change linking Employment for Stability

This scoping study analyzes whether employment (or unemployment) and stability (or instability) correlate with each other and what channels of impact may be at play. In particular, it examines how recent academic publications, policy documents, and practitioners understand the link between employment creation and stability identifies gaps in the literature and policy, and meshes this analysis with the experiences of practitioners involved in implementing employment creation programs. The study also considers the risks and risk mitigation in employment-creation schemes and potential third factors associated with related programs. It uses a broad definition of employment and a micro–macro distinction between stability of state institutions and stability of society to frame the analysis and delve more deeply into social cohesion elements than most other analyses. The results are derived from a critical review of the literature, the authors’ work in the field, and a series of seven practitioner interviews to explore and test accepted theories.