Hall student Lukas Lehner awarded ESRC Outstanding Early Career Impact Prize

Teddy Hall congratulates Lukas Lehner (2019, DPhil Social Policy) for being awarded the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Outstanding Early Career Impact Prize for his doctoral research work with the Austrian Public Employment Service to design and implement a pilot of a universal job guarantee scheme.

Launched in 2020, the scheme brought more than 100 people in the town of Marienthal who had been unemployed for a year or more back into work by guaranteeing a job that paid at least the minimum wage. Importantly, there was an emphasis on meaningful employment where participants were helped to find suitable private sector work or supported to create a job based on their skills and knowledge of their community’s needs.

“I am beyond excited to receive the ESRC Prize for outstanding early-career impact at the Royal Society for my doctoral research. The work would not have been possible without many collaborators who I would like to thank. I am also grateful to St Edmund Hall for having provided a home that supports this research.”

An evaluation of the programme revealed multiple benefits. It showed the programme eliminated long-term unemployment in the area and helped participants feel happier, more financially secure and more involved in their community.

Find out more about the scheme on the UK Research and Innovation page or Lukas’ research page along with a fantastic informative video.