The main area of research within the IPG is the individual coping with unemployment -especially long term unemployment. What are the psycho-social consequences after job loss and long-term unemployment? Can we find differences in the reactions of individuals from different age groups? What are the consequences of mass unemployment on the personal situation of the people and how is the social climate in different communities affected?

Research within the area of health-related consequences and the interrelationship between employment, national labour policies and social exclusion of unemployed individuals is conducted in close cooperation with the Centre for Public Health (ZPH).

Members of IPG work as counsellors and coaches in outplacement- / replacement processes, workplace health promotion and health-focused organisational development for companies and institutions on a regional, national and international level. Since 2000 Prof. Dr. Thomas Kieselbach is chairman of the Scientific Committee „Unemployment and Health“ of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH). ICOH is the world's leading international scientific society in the field of occupational health. The ICOH is recognised by the United Nations as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and has close working relationships with ILO, WHO, UNEP and ISSA. Since 2003 Prof. Dr. Thomas Kieselbach chairs the commission „Psychology of Unemployment“ of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) and is member of the Policy Committee of IAAP.

With the Archive for Unemployment Research (AfA), the IPG is in charge of a comprehensive archive in the thematic field of psychosocial effects of unemployment (approx. 5.500 documents). Further more there is an archive for health-psychology literature under construction which currently comprises approx. 3.500 documents.