The primary aim of this study was to investigate the predictors and outcomes of
perceptions of decent work among unemployed individuals in Portugal, with a focus on
policy and practice implications for facilitating the transition from unemployment to
decent work. The conceptual framework guiding this research was the Psychology of
Working Framework (PWF; Blustein, 2006) and the Psychology of Working Theory
(PWT; Duffy et al., 2016). PWT represents an innovative approach, shifting the focus of
work-related perspectives from privileged groups with access to the labor market to
those facing significant challenges in the workplace (Blustein et al., 2018).
Key predictors examined included economic constraints, career adaptability, volition at
work, active job search, and daily discrimination, while outcomes comprised need
satisfaction and overall well-being. Data were collected from 1,013 unemployed
participants, aged 18 to 67, with 628 (62%) identifying as female and 385 (38%) as
male. To evaluate the instruments, the sample was randomly divided into two groups.
The findings demonstrated robust psychometric properties across all instruments.
Additionally, career adaptability (concern) and daily discrimination emerged as the
primary predictors of perceptions of decent work for both women and men. Meeting
basic needs was found to significantly impact positive and negative affect, as well as life
satisfaction.
This study underscores the critical importance of developing new decent work policies
in Portugal, which hold the potential to play a central role in integrating and
reintegrating unemployed individuals into the labor market. Such efforts are highlighted
as a social responsibility for employers and policymakers at both national and local
levels.