One of the common programs adopted by welfare states and other national governments provides welfare assistance to citizens when they are jobless. However, providing unemployment benefits in the form of transfer payments is often considered unsuitable, especially in societies in which work is held in high esteem. Hence, many national governments have tried to associate unemployment assistance programs with activities that are either beneficial to society as a whole or help individual beneficiaries develop skills so they can more easily reenter the labor market.

The term workfare is the practice of requiring those who receive public benefits or social security assistance to perform mandated activities. It is a social policy neologism referring to welfare programs in which mandatory work is required or there are work-oriented welfare ...